The Hindu : Sport : Mary-Ann, Nisha Mohota share lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 02, 2005

Sport

Sport

Mary-Ann, Nisha Mohota share lead

H. S. Manjunath

BANGALORE: A day dominated by drawn games produced two decisive results, but the good news for the overnight leaders, Mary-Ann Gomes and Nisha Mohota after the eighth round is that their reign at the top continues for another day.

Mary-Ann and Nisha were involved in drawn encounters on Sunday, but they managed to keep a slender half a point lead over the rest with 5.5 points each. Trailing them was the duo of Bhagyashree Thipsay and Anupama Gokhale with five points each.

In a contest of experience vs youth, Bhagyashree's sound knowledge of the opening played a pivotal role as local girl Kruttika Nadig was strategically lost after the first 15 moves. The four knights game of symmetrical set up clearly was in favour of the white pieces and Kruttika's problems were compounded when she allowed her king side pawn structure to be shattered, resulting in numerous white square weaknesses. Kruttika put up a brave front but defeat was imminent in the wake of Bhagyshree's unrelenting pressure.

Swathi's form dips

Swathi Ghate's form chart saw another dip as Raghavi rose well above herself to tie the WGM in knots. The Sveshnikov line arising out of Pelikan presented several tactical possibilities but in regrouping her pieces Raghavi clearly stole a march over Swathi. In the middle game complications Swathi tried to defend more out of courage than conviction with the result that she lost an exchange without much compensation. Yet Raghavi made a heavy weather of winning a won game and nearly allowed Swathi some counter play. There seemed an outside chance for Swathi to make a match of it before Raghavi realised her folly and tidied up her game to grab a full point.

Anupama Gokhale and Nisha Mohota were locked in a draw. The Catalan opening offered no real extra to either of them. After 28 moves neither could come up with a viable plan.

Anuprita Patil did well to hold Mary-Ann Gomes safe in a Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian defence. Aarthie and Nimmy George could make no head way with three pawns each and opposite coloured bishops.

The results (eighth round):

Bhagyashree Thipsay (5) bt Kruttika Nadig (3), Swathi Ghate (4.5) lost to Raghavi (3), Aarthie R. (4.5) drew with Nimmy A. George (3), Priya (3.5) drew with Swati Mohota (4), Anupama Gokhale (5) drew with Nisha Mohota (5.5), Anuprita Patil (4) drew with Mary-Ann Gomes (5.5), P. Shivashankari (2) drew with M.R. Sangeetha (3.5).

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