40th National Women's Chess Round 2: Pratyusha Bodda leads with perfect score

Former National U-17 champion Pratyusha Bodda of Andhra Pradesh emerged as the surprise leader with two points after the second round of the 40th National Women’sChess Championship here today.

Top seed Tania Sachdev and Swati Ghate shared the joint second spot, closely following the leader with 1.5 apiece.

Playing white against Michelle Chatherina of Tamil Nadu, Partyusha won the exchange of Rook for Bishop after which she exploited a pin on her opponent’s bishop to get the full point.

Tania squandered a winning end-game against former national champion, city-based Nisha Mohta with the black pieces in a Catalan opening.

Tania had an extra pawn and a better position, but she let Nisha obtain counter play on the opposite wing and was forced to draw in 62 moves.

Two-time defending champion Mary Ann Gomes of West Bengal drew her second game on the trot as her surprise opening move against former world junior champion Soumya Swaminathan failed to give her any advantage.

Mary was in a difficult position from the opening, but she sacrificed a pawn to obtain counter-play in the middle game.

She won the pawn back and had an active knight in the ending, but despite all her attempts she failed to squeeze out a win.

WGM Swati Ghate built up an excellent attack against WGM Kiran Monisha Mohanty, but only to falter at the crucial moment to draw the game.

The 14-year-old National junior champion Ivana Furtado sacrificed her knight in a complicated position on the 20th move to break open Michelle Catherina’s king side after which she had little difficulty in wrapping up the game in 30 moves.

Results Round Two: WGM Swati Ghate ( LIC) (1.5) drew WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty (Odi) (0.5); Bodda Pratyusha (AP) (2) bt WGM Bhakti Kulkarni (1); Padmini Rout (Odi) (1) G K Monnisha (TN) (0); WGM Nisha Mohta (PSPB) (1) drew WGM Tania Sachdev (AI) (1.5); WGM Mary Ann Gomes (WB) (1) drew Soumya Swaninathan (PSPB) (1); Ivana Maria Furtado (Goa) (1) bt Michelle Catherina (TN) (1/2). (PTI)