Kanpur: The penultimate round of the Karam Devi Memorial 23rd National under17 Open Chess Championship 2012 today belonged to the clash of chess titans. Every move of this psychological warfare grew more intense and fascinating as the contenders tried their best to outclass their opponents.

The top-ranking player IM Vaibhav Suri of Delhi continued his winning juggernaut by defeating his club mate CM Prince Bajaj, Vaibhav playing white initiated with e4 which was smartly countered by Prince in Sicilian Taimanov Defence, after a hard fought battle for 35 moves, Bajaj was left with no choice but to yield before the International Master.

Suri who is now leading the tally with 8 points will face Padhya Saumil of Maharashtra who emerged victorious over G Akash of Tamil Nadu in a surprising match. Akash who played black counter-attacked the moves of Saumil in Sicilian Classical Defence but was forfeited by him after 43 moves of desperate play.

In Girls Category, Pratyusha Bodda of Andhra Pradesh bounced back in the championship with her triumph over Sunyasakta Satpathy of Orissa. Bodda playing black replied e4 with e5 and converted the game into a Scotch opening, after 55 moves Bodda took the advantage as the ticking of the digital clock created a huge pressure on Satpathy forcing her to play a reluctant move which proved disastrous for her.

Bodda, leading the tally with 8 points will encounter Priya Vss of Andhra Pradesh in the final round followed by the WFM Saranya J of Tamil Nadu and her state mate WFM Sesha Seshadri with 7.5 points each. Both the WFMs will contest against each other in the finals round.

POINTS POSITION

BOYS

IM Vaibhav Suri ( 8 pts), Rishi Sardana, Padhya Saumil ( both 7.5 pts ), G Akash, CM Prince Bajaj, Nishvin J ( all 7 pts )

GIRLS

Pratyusha Bodda ( 8 pts), WFM Saranya J, WFM Srija Seshadri
(bith 7.5 pts ), Rathore Sonakshi, Michelle Catherina P, Priya
Vss ( all 7 pts)