Kolhapur, Jan 2 (Agency) Mary Ann Gomes of PSPB maintained her sole lead with winning todays round with 6.5 points while the reigning champion Divya Deshmukh (Mah) joins the second spot with 6 Points. Top Seeded woman grandmaster Vantika Agrawal of Delhi, women International master Sakshi Chitlange of (Mah), Isha Sharma of Karnataka with joint third place while IM Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa, IM Soumya Swaminathan of PSPB, Rucha Pujari & Aashna Makhija of Maharashtra share the fourth place with IM Nisha Mohota of PSPB, WGM Srija Sheshadri and four Others, after ended 7th round of MPL 48th National Women Chess championship today, which was held at Sanjay Ghodavat University Atigrey of this district. With playing 7th round, Mary Ann Gomes of PSPB continued her winning run today as she beat IM Soumya Swaminathan of PSPB on Board no. 1.
The game started off with the King’s Indian Attack: Yugoslav Variation where Soumya managed to hold the position till move number 34. She blundered with the wrong move of her pawn followed by going for a Tempting Piece sacrifice given by Mary letting her an easy endgame with Two passed pawns over the board. Board Two witnessed an encounter between Divya Deshmukh (Mah)and WIM Aashna Makhija. The game started off with Ruy López Opening: Morphy Defense, Yates/ Bogoljubov Variation where Divya as a white player had slight edge in the opening itself and she capitalized it in an easy win over Aashna punishing her for every mistake she made to score a full point in the crucial round. IM Bhakti Kulkarni on Board 3 lost to WIM Sakshi Chitlange in an Accelerated London System game. Bhakti Blundered on 12th Move itself with a wrong move of her Knight and then came a devastating attack from Sakshi’s Preparation which lead to an biggest upset in Round 7. Sakshi won the full point and Joined Vantika and Isha at a joint Third Spot.