Chennai: Eighth seed Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa won a spectacular bishop ending against Chennai's Bharathi in the second round of the Velammal Educational Trust National premier chess championship here on Sunday.
Bhakti joined three higher-rated woman Grand Masters, Mary Ann Gomes, Nisha Mohota (both WB) and S. Meenakshi (TN) in the lead with two full points.
Bhakti queened her pawn with a check and it made the vital difference in her 61-move victory over Bharathi.
The top table game saw Swati Ghate emerge a pawn ahead with white after which Tania Sachdev fought back to draw a 74-move battle in six hours.
Nimmy George as white forced a draw after 33 moves from an opposite colour bishop ending against Eesha Karavade. The Kerala player respected the opening preparation as well as the rating of her opponent in playing it safe. Nisha Mohota played the rarely seen Alekhine defence as black. Surprisingly none of her plans were challenged by her opponent. Nisha trooped in her rooks through the only open file and thereafter put them in the seventh rank and won pawns at will to defeat Aarthie in 41 moves.
The Hindu