Two players, WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB) and WFM C. Lakshmi  (TN) with six points from seven rounds jointly share the lead at the end of the seventh round in the 44th National Women Challengers Chess Championship 2017 being organised by Mysore Chess Centre at Sri Kanteerava Narasimharaja Sports Club here yesterday.

Five players, WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty (LIC), WGM Mary Ann Gomes (PSPB), WGM Bhakti Kulkarni (AI), IM Nisha Mohota (PSPB) and WGM Meenakshi Subbaraman (AAI) are tied with 5.5 points and are placed from third to seven in the rankings.

Playing with black pieces on the top board, top-seed Soumya Swaminathan was held to a draw by WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty (LIC) in 27 moves. Second seed WGM Mary Ann Gomes (PSPB) was involved in a 39 moves drawn game with WGM Bhakti Kulkarni (Air India) on the second board.

In the third board, WFM C. Lakshmi of Tamil Nadu continued her fine form by registering a well earned win over state-mate WIM M. Mahalakshmi in 45 moves. WFM G. Lasya (AP) playing with white pieces held Commonwealth Champion and third-seed WGM Swati Ghate (LIC) to a creditable draw in 88 moves in the fourth board.

In the fifth board, IM Nisha Mohota- 5.5 points (PSPB) came back strongly by registering a good win over Tamil Nadu’s K. Priyanka (4.5 points) in 38 moves. WGM Meenakshi Subbaraman (AAI) scored a convincing win over Makhija Aashna (MAH) in 79 moves.

Important Results

7th round: Kiran Manisha Mohanty (5.5) drew with Soumya Swaminathan (6), Mary Ann Gomes (5.5) drew with Bhakti Kulkarni (5.5), C. Lakshmi (6) bt Mahalakshmi M (5), G. Lasya (5) drew with Swati Ghate (5),  Nisha Mohota (5.5) bt K.Priyanka (4.5), Meenakshi Subbaraman (5.5) bt Makhija Aashna (4.5), L. Jyotsna (5) drew with G. Harshitha (5), R. Divya Lakshmi (4) lost to P.V. Nandhidhaa (5), Srija Seshadri (5) bt Isha Sharma (4), P. Michelle Catherina (4.5) drew with Meenu Rajendran (4.5), A.G. Nimmy (4.5) drew with Y. Saranya (4.5), Ghosh Samriddhaa (4) lost to Pranali S. Dharia (5), Chitlange Sakshi (4.5) drew with G.Sandhya (4.5), Bommini Monika Akshaya (4) lost to Arpitha Mukharjee (5), Ramaswamy Arathie (5) bt Rathi Dhanashree (4), Bala Kannamma P (5) bt P. Tulsi (4), Andria L. D’souza (4.5) drew with Chandreyee Hajra (4).