E-Paper
Sachdev, Mohota and Gomes share lead after Premier event’s Round 4
International Masters Tania Sachdev of Delhi and Nisha Mohota of PSPB, along with Women Grandmaster Mary Ann Gomes (AAI) shared the lead with 3.5 points at the end of the fourth round of the 38th National Women Premier Chess Championship on Tuesday.
International Masters Tania Sachdev of Delhi and Nisha Mohota of PSPB, along with Women Grandmaster Mary Ann Gomes (AAI) shared the lead with 3.5 points at the end of the fourth round of the 38th National Women Premier Chess Championship on Tuesday.
In second place with three points are two players -- WGM Padmini Rout (Orissa) and S Harini of Tamil Nadu.
The top board saw Tania employ the Nimzo Indian Defence against Candidate Master Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa.
Tania accepted an isolated pawn to gain good piece play. In a bid to gain some space on the kingside, Bhakti unwisely moved her pawns on the kingside, enabling the Delhi girl to get some vital entry points.
With both players willing to take that extra risk to gain a valuable point, Tania's foray with her major pieces proved to be Bhakti's undoing in 38 moves.
Mary Ann Gomes employed an irregular set up with white pieces to confuse Pratyusha Bodda of Andhra Pradesh. Nisha Mohota had a relatively easy day as Meenakshi Subbaraman (IA) misplayed the opening to lose a pawn in seven moves.
