Two-time champion Tania Sachdev of Delhi trapped a knight to defeat Mary Ann Gomes of West Bengal in the fifth round of the Velammal Educational Trust National Premier women's chess championship here on Wednesday.
In a modern Benoni variation, Tania pushed her pawn on move 37 to threaten a knight which was placed in the corner of the board.
Mary Ann resigned as she was already a pawn down with black pieces and there was no way to save that knight. Tania emerged as the first sole leader with 4.5 points after five games.
In clear second position on four points is Padmini Rout of Orissa. Tied for the third to seventh places on 3.5 are Mary Ann, Nisha Mohota (both WB), S. Meenakshi (TN), Pratyusha (AP) and Soumya Swaminathan (Mah).
Padmini used the power of a passed pawn and some deft manoeuvres to defeat Nisha in 31 moves with black from a Grunfeld defence. In the crucial sixth round, second seed Padmini faces top seed Tania with white pieces.
Soumya Swaminathan ended the winning run of Harini with a 27-move victory from the white side of the Sicilian defence. Harini allowed a mate by attraction theme and resigned before Soumya could execute it.
Saranya lived dangerously by sacrificing a bishop for attack against Meenakshi. Saranya enjoyed a rook and two pawns for two minor pieces of her opponent. Meenakshi spotted a pin and won a rook for knight on move 39 which brought down the curtains on the white player.
Pratyusha returned to winning ways when she sacrificed a rook for attack to crush Bhakti Kulkarni in a miniature battle in 24 moves. This Andhra girl is playing 400 Elo higher than her start rating of 2062.
Sai Meera repeated the position and drew higher rated Eesha Karavade in 34 moves with the black pieces. Swati Ghate made some lost ground in the event with a 65-move win against Bharathi from a queen ending.
National junior girls' champion Pon N. Krithikha walked into a double attack on move 37 and had to accept a poor position thereafter and could not recover against Nimmy George.
The results (fifth round):
Tania Sachdev (Del) 4.5 bt Mary Ann Gomes (WB) 3.5; Nisha Mohota (WB) 3.5 lost to Padmini Rout (Ori) 4; Soumya Swaminathan (Mah) 3.5 bt S. Harini (TN) 3; J. Saranya (TN) 2.5 lost to S. Meenakshi (TN) 3.5.
B. Pratyusha (AP) 3.5 bt Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa) 2.5; Swati Ghate (Mah) 3 bt R. Bharathi (TN) 2; Pon N. Krithikha (TN) 2 lost to Nimmy George (Ker) 3; C. Divyasree (AP) 3 bt Bala Kannamma (TN) 2; M. Mahalakshmi (TN) 2 bt P.V. Nandhidhaa (TN) 1; Eesha Karavade (Mah) 2.5 drew with Sai Meera (TN) 3.
Aarthie Ramaswamy (TN) 2.5 drew with C. Sahajasri (AP) 2.5; Kiran Mohanty (Ori) 2.5 bt Swati Mohota (WB) 1.5; Shweta Gole (Mah) 2.5 bt A. Akshaya (TN) 1.5; Michelle Catherina (TN) 1.5 bt Supriya Joshi (Mah) 0.5. Madhurima Shekhar (Del) 1.5 bye; Bhagyashree Thipsay (Mah) 1 withdrawn.
