New Delhi: Six times national champion and Grandmaster-elect S Vijayalakshmi of Air India played another fine game to beat International Master Nisha Mohota of PSPB while IM Padmini Rout of PSPB accounted for Woman Grandmaster Swati Ghate of LIC in the fourth round of 43rd National Women Premier Chess Championship now underway here at Punjab Bhawan.

It seems like a race between Viji, as Vijayalakshmi is fondly called, and Padmini who both have had identical results in the first four rounds of the Rs. 600000/- prize money championship right from day one. One factor that separates them is the fact that Vijyalakshmi has been crushing opponents while defending champion Padmini has been making it count through sheer hard work on board. With Vijyalakshmi and Padmini on 3.5 points apiece, former champion and Woman Grandmaster Soumya Swaminathan and her PSPB teammate top seed International Master Eesha Karavade are closely following the two leaders with three points apiece.

It looks as though these four will be there at the summit clash as well but with seven rounds still to come, P Bala Kannamma of TN and PSPB duo of Mary Ann Gomes and Nisha Mohota share the fifth spot with two points apiece.

Vijyalakshmi gave an endgame lesson to Nisha out of a Queen’s gambit declined game where the former played white. The middle game looked intense for some time but the Chennai-based quickly tore through the queen side to win a pawn and the resulting rook and minor piece endgame was child’s play. Gaining in confidence now, Padmini Rout again had to work hard and her tactical acumen proved superior to Swati Ghate.

Results round 4: Mary Ann Gomes of PSPB (2) drew with Mahalakshmi M of TN (1.5); Vijayalakshmi S of AI (3.5) beat Nisha Mohota of PSPB (2); Bala Kannamma P of TN (2) lost to Soumya Swaminathan of PSPB (3); Padmini Rout of PSPB (3.5) beat Swati Ghate of LIC (.5); Eesha Karavade of PSPB (3) beat Kiran Manisha Mohanty of LIC (1); Pratyusha Bodda of AP (.5) lost to Vaishali R of TN (1.5).