40th Women's Premier National Chess Championship 2013 Round 6: Swati Ghate in sole lead

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Swati Ghate emerged the sole leader with an effortless win against Padmini Rout after the sixth round of the 40th National Women Premier Chess Championship. Playing white, Swati took advantage of Padmini’s blunder of a pawn in a Sicilian defence to emerge as sole leader with 4.5 points.

Two-time defending champion and local favourite Mary Ann Gomes had a hard-fought battle against Kiran Manisha Mohanty before settling for a draw to closely follow the leader, half-a-point adrift.

Top seed Tania Sachdev kept herself in the reckoning with yet another win as she shared the third position with Padmini, Soumya Swaminathan and Ivana Furtado with 3.5 points apiece. Delhi girl Tania had to battle hard against Soumya in a Scotch defence before winning a pawn in the early middle game and later broke open her opponent’s Queenside to clinch the game. Goa’s 14-year-old Ivana took the day’s honours with an upset win against her state-mate WGM Bhakti Kulkarni.

City-based Nisha Mohota came up with yet another fine win to take her tally to three points. Playing White, Nisha countered Pratyusha’s Dutch defence with a break on the kingside which netted her a piece and full point.

Results Round 6

WGM Swati Ghate (LIC) (4.5) bt WGM Padmini Rout (Odisha) (3.5); IM Nisha Mohota (PSPB) (3) bt Bodda Pratyusha (AP) (2.5); WGM Mary Ann Gomes (WB) (4) drew WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty (LIC) (2.5); WIM Ivana Maria Furtado (Goa) (3.5) bt CM Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa) (2.5); Michelle Catherina (TN) (1) drew WFM G K Monnisha (TN) (2); WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB) (3.5) lost to IM Tania Sachdev (AI) (3.5).