Tania outwits Vijayalakshmi in Nationals

Chennai, Dec 13 (UNI) WGM Tania Sachdev of Delhi bounced back into the joint lead with reigning National Champion Swati Ghate (Maharashtra) and Dronavalli Harika (Andhra Pradesh ) when she fully accounted for the only International Master in the tournament S Vijayalakshmi, also of Delhi.

With six points each at the finish of the eighth round, the three players Swati, Harika and Tania, are inching towards the coveted title in the ongoing WIN TV National Women ''A'' Chess Championship at the Hotel Sangeetha Residency here today evening.

WGM S Meenakshi (Indian Airlines, Tamil Nadu) with 5.5 is the only player, following close second to the leading trio of Swati, Harika and Tania.

On the other hand, Meenakshi's sister Vijaylakshmi is now trailing behind the top notchers and with only five points, she is now in the joint third postion with six others, three WGMs - Eesha Karavade, Aarthie Ramaswamy, Nisha Mohota , one WIM Kruttika Nadig , Amruta Mokal and S.Harini. Viji has to work hard in the remaining three rounds to get a coveted placing , if not the title.

On the top table, it was a fighting draw in the Petrof, otherwise known as Russian defence between Swati and Meenkashi. With both castled on the queen side, major pieces took active position, but later on two rooks were exchanged, resulting in a queen , same colour bishop and equal pawns ending. The game ended in a draw at their 40th move, as both agreed that there was no cope for win on either side.

Too many cooks spoil the broth says a good old proverb, but in chess also, too many draws put pressure on the player to go for a win at any cost. This was what exactly happened in the game between Viji and Tania. In a razor-sharp queen pawn opening, Viji castled on the queenside and Tania on the other side. Top seed Viji bent upon to play for a win, but Tania's open 'B' file controlled by her rook prevented the former from going for a kill.

In a race for queening the pawn, Tania had the final say and Viji lost a rook in the melee. With her King cut off by the rook , Viji's two passers on the queen side were of no use and, hence, resigned without going for the 55th move.

In a Nimzo Indian defence. Swati with white pieces against Harika had some advantage just before the finality of a middle game. Swati was in a fix when her ''C'' passer blocked and that falling of the trump card, Hari had no difficulty in pocketing a full points to share the joint lead.

The two woman Grandmasters Essha Karavade and Aarthie Ramaswamy after playing some interesting moves in the Nimzo-Indian defence agreed to split the point equally to reach the striking distance, not far away from the joint leaders MORE UNI XR KVV DH KN2308