Shrushti upset WFM Rucha; in joint lead with Mohana Priya and Anusha

Mumbai, Jan 12 (UNI) Shrushti Shetty of Karnataka today caused a major upset when she beat WFM Rucha Rucha Pujari in the fourth round of the National U-13 girls chess championship organised by Bombay Chess Association at Andheri Sports Complex here.

Shrushti, with this win moved to the top of the table and is now leading along with Mohana Priya of Tamil Nadu and N L V Anusha of Andhra Pradesh with 4 points. Top seed Padmini Rout is on the 2nd spot along with 4 other players.

Shrishti Shetty and WFM Rucha Pujari started their game with French Defence. In the middle game Shrishti took advantage of Rucha's weak King and in the endgame ended up with a passed pawn and won the game in 68 moves.

Top seed Padmini Rout defeated Sonia Deshmukh of Maharashtra in the game of Sicilian Defence, while on top board the game between Mohana Priya and J Saranya started in Queen's Gambit King's Spring variation. In the middle game Mohana won a pawn and thus managed to win the game in 69 moves.

On 2nd board N L V Anusha and J Janani started their game with Colle System.

In the middle game Anusha attacked Janani's King with her Queen and Bishop and got hold on the game. In the end game Anusha got a free Knight and won the game in 61 moves.

UNI GS SR RKM RK1705