The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Nisha, Mary-Ann draw

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 06, 2005

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Sport - Chess

Nisha, Mary-Ann draw

H.S. Manjunath

BANGALORE: Nisha Mohota and Mary-Ann Gomes left no room for frills or thrills when they faced each other in the penultimate round of the National women's `A' chess championship here on Thursday.

The two, having preferred safety play, came out of the middle game on equal terms and graciously split the point to remain focussed for the crucial final round on Friday.

Nisha begins the last lap half-a-point ahead of Mary-Ann, who is half-a-point ahead of Anupama Gokhale and Aarthie. R.

Meanwhile, local girl Kruttika Nadig produced the day's major upset, defeating Anupama Gokhale.

Mary-Ann and Nisha got down to play the English Opening. Both were content to keep their corners tight.

After the exchange of queens, rooks on both sides came into active play but when the queen-side pawns were completely mopped up the material on the board was level, a perfect inducement to share the honours.

Anupama shocked

Anupama had no worries when the Grunfeld Defence game went along expected lines. But Kruttika infused life into the start of the end game by forcing doubled pawns on Anupama.

But Kruttika scored a vital break creating an outside passer, which almost left Anupama grounded.

Aarthie's flamboyant approach to the middle game was well mirrored when she chose to give away her rook for Bhagyashree's knight and two pawns. But sensing the danger of giving Aarthie such a freedom of movement, Bhagyashree returned the favour at the most opportune time and neutralised Aarthie's space advantage. Once the position on the board simplified, neither could find a winning plan, the game itself stretching up to 42 moves.

Swati Ghate outplayed Priya, a vital point that has given her some "outside" chance of a remunerative berth.

The final round pairings offer a wide range of possibilities. Nisha will meet Bhagyashree Thipsay, who needs a win to go up the standings.

Nisha, at best, needs a draw to ensure that no one can get past her.

But Nisha may be hoping that her sister Swati Mohota makes life easy for her at the top by at least holding Mary-Ann safe in the final round. To push her own claims, Mary Ann has to go for the kill.

Anupama Gokhale will also look for a win against Swati Ghate, who herself has a fair chance of getting into the "team" if she were to win. But through all these "guesses", Aarthie remains one of the fancied "outsiders" since she is playing a comparatively less stronger opponent in Priya.

The results (12th round):

Bhagyashree Thipsay (6.5) drew with Aarthie. R. (7.5); Priya (5.5) lost to Swati Ghate (6), Anupama Gokhale (7.5) lost to Kruttika Nadig (5); Anuprita Patil (5) bt Raghavi (3.5); P. Shivashankari (2.5) lost to Nimmy A. George (6); Sangeetha M.R. (5.5) bt Swati Mohota (6); Mary-Ann Gomes (8) drew with Nisha Mohota (8.5).

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