After three rounds, seven players — top-seed WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB), second-seeded WGM Mary Ann Gomes (PSPB), eight-seed WFM Srija Seshadri (Del), R. Divya Lakshmi (TN), fifteenth-seed WIM M. Mahalakshmi (TN), WIM Pranali S. Dharia (Mah) and K. Priyanka (TN) — with three points from three rounds, shared the lead at the end of the second-day in the nine-day 44th National Women Challengers Chess Championship-2017, conducted by Mysore Chess Centre at Kanteerava Sports Club here yesterday.

Top-seed Soumya Swaminathan, playing with  black pieces on the top-board, capitalised on the mistake made by WGM Arathie Ramaswamy (AI) in the 20th move of the game and went on to win in 40 moves.

Second-seeded Mary Ann Gomes (PSPB), playing with white pieces on the second board, scored a well-earned win over WFM K. Sai Nirupama (AP) in 48 moves. WFM C. Lakshmi (TN) with a rating 1952, playing with white pieces on the sixth board, held WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty (LIC) to a creditable draw in 31 moves. WGM Swati Ghate (2.5 points) came back strongly after a drawn game in the second round to register a win against Stuti Bhanot (Har) in 54 moves. WIM Rucha  Pujari was held to a draw by WCM Jyothsna in the fourth board in 45 moves.

Important results

3rd round: Arathie Rama- swamy (2) lost to Soumya Swaminathan (3), Mary Ann Gomes (3) bt K. Sai Nirupama (2), Srija Seshadri (3) bt Priyanka Kumari (2), L. Jyothsna (2.5) drew with Rucha Pujari (2.5), R. Divya Lakshmi (3) bt G. Harshitha (2), C. Lakshmi (2.5) drew with Kiran Manisha Mohanty (2.5), A.G. Nimmy (2.5) drew  with A. Makhija (2.5), Shrishti Pandey (2) lost to M. Mahalakshmi (3), Pranali S. Dharia (3) bt Meenu Rajendran (2), S. Siddhali (2.5) drew with Chandreyee Hajra (2.5), Sanskriti Goyal (2.5) drew with G. Lasya (2.5), Andria L. D’souza (2) lost to K. Priyanka (3), Bhanot Stuti (1.5) lost to Swati Ghate (2.5).