Doha: India maintained its 4.5 points lead over second-placed China at the end of the seventh round of the team chess championship in the Asian Games with a 2.5-0.5 victory over Iran. With two rounds left India has excellent chances of taking the gold.

On the top board, Sasikiran, playing black, was held to a draw by Ghaem Maghami in a blocked middle-game with no chances for either side. On the second board, P. Harikrishna had an easy 32-move victory over Elshan Moradiabadi when the Iranian overlooked a tactical trick after the opening and lost a pawn.

The last game to end was Humpy's heart stopping victory over Woman Grandmaster Atousa Pourkashiyan.

Uncharacteristically Humpy got into a defensive position but when both players were short of time and the Iranian was attacking with full force she found saving moves that made the Iranian fumble.

The rest of the Iranian team and all the spectators were talking of a checkmate for Pourkashiyan but Humpy had the last laugh when white's clock ran out of time.

In significant results China beat Vietnam 3-0, Kazakhstan beat Qatar 2.5-0.5 and Indonesia beat Jordan 3-0.

Standings (two rounds to go): 1. India 18.5; 2. China 14; 3-4. Kazakhstan, Indonesia 13; 6-9. Qatar, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan 12; 10-11. Bangladesh, Syria 10.5; 12-13. Vietnam, Mongolia 10; 14-16. Jordan, UAE, Palestine 9.5; 17. Japan 8.5; 18-19. Sri Lanka, Bahrain 8; 20. Nepal 7; 21. Macau 3.

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