Lakshmi Sahiti in sole lead

Chennai, Sep 22 (UNI) Asian Sub-Junior Champion P Lakshimi Sahiti of Andhra Pradesh with 4.5 points outwitted the seasoned Sai Meera Ravi of Indian Bank and jumped into sole half-a-point lead over three nearest rivals at the conclusion of the fifth round of the 33rd National Women 'B' Chess Championship here today.

Behind Lakshmi Sahiti, with 4.5 points each were top seed Nimmy A George (Kerala), Pon N Krithika and R Preethi (both Tamil Nadu).

R Preethi (TN) held Nimmy A George to a creditable draw. It was a stellar performance for the Pon N Krithka when she thrashed out the third seed Kiran Monisha Mohanty(Orissa) and former National Woman A player J E Kavitha (TN) in the third and fourth rounds respectively.

The reigning champion Supriya Maji (WB) tasted her second defeat as she went down to Mahima Rajmohan (TN) in the fifth round.

She had lost her third round to S.Sujatha also of Tamil Nadu.

As many as nine players -- Sai Meera Ravi, P Priya, N Raghavi, Mahima Rajmohan, M R Sangeetha, Jennitha Anto (all TN), Kulkarni Ketaki (Mah), Padmini Rout (Orissa), and Bakthi Kulkarni, (Goa) with 4 points each were in the joint third position .

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