Chennai: Woman Grandmaster Tania Sachdev of Delhi caused the biggest upset of the competition by defeating top seed and six-time champion S. Vijayalakshmi to join Swati Ghate of LIC in the lead at the end of the eighth round of the 33rd Win TV National Women's `A' chess championship here on Wednesday.

Swati and Tania are leading the points table with six points each. Following them on 5.5 points are WGMs S. Meenakshi (IA) and D. Harika (AP).

A further half point below are S. Vijayalakshmi (IA), S. Harini (TN), Kruttika Nadig, Eesha Karavade, Amruta Mokal (all Mah), Aarthie Ramesh (IA) and Nisha Mohota (Ben).

No different

Those playing with black piece had won all previous encounters between Tania and Vijayalakshmi and this round was no different. This time Tania won a well-fought rook and minor piece to square their personal score at 2-2.

"I had the advantage all along but she missed a draw in the end," said the delighted winner. Tania said she could have played better if she had more time in her clock.

Tania won in 54 moves to enhance her maiden title chances.

Harika rebounded with the black pieces after Swati Mohota missed the chances to draw in a pawn down rook and minor piece ending with the pawns on the same side.

The results (eighth round): Swati Ghate (LIC) 6 drew with S. Meenakshi (IA) 5.5; S. Vijayalakshmi (IA) 5 lost to Tania Sachdev (Del) 6; Swati Mohota (Ben) 4.5 lost to D. Harika (AP) 5.5; Eesha Karavade (Mah) 5 drew with Aarthie Ramesh (IA) 5; Kruttika Nadig (Mah) 5 drew with Nisha Mohota (Ben) 5; Amruta Mokal (Mah) 5 bt Kiran Mohanty (Ori) 4; S. Harini (TN) 5 bt P. Lakshmi Sahithi (AP) 4; Padmini Rout (Ori) 4 drew with S. Soumya (Mah) 4; I. Ramyakrishna (AP) 4.5 bt P. Priya (TN) 3.5; Saheli Nath (Ben) 4.5 bt H. Nilavoli (TN) 3.5; Sai Meera (BSB) 3 lost to R. Sanggeetha (TN) 4; Nimmy George (Ker) 4 bt N. Raghavi (TN) 3; Baisakhi Das (Jha) 4 bt R. Mahima (TN) 3; S. Sujatha (TN) 3.5 bt J.E. Kavitha (TN) 2.5; Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa) 3.5 bt Aabha Thakur (Mah) 2.5; Pon N. Krithikha (TN) 1.5 drew with R. Preethi (TN) 3; Kanuri Tejaswi (AP) 3.5 bye.

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