34th Women’s National A Chess Championship

Great news from the Women's National A in India: WGM norm for Kiran Monisha Wednesday November 14 2007 00:01 IST EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE PUNE: Kiran Monisha Mohanty of Orissa made her maiden WGM norm while P Priya of Tamil Nadu made her final WIM norm on a day that witnessed fighting chess on all the boards. Three and half hours into the game and one would expect half the games to be over. But that wasn't to happen in the ninth round of the 34th Women’s National A Chess Championship organised by Symbiosis Spa Chess School here on Tuesday. Not only were the top boards fighting it out but even on the lower boards no player was ready to give up , thus making this round one of the most interesting ones. Swati Ghate of LIC beat Mary Ann Gomes while Kiran Mohanty beat Nimmy George to join Tania Sachdev in lead on 6.5 points. Top seed IM Dronavalli Harika and WIM Soumya Swaminathan occupy second spot with six points. Swati Ghate played the Pirc Defence from black against Mary but it soon transposed into a Sicilian type position. Swati won a pawn in the middle-game and in the endgame she converted her advantage in spite of the mutual time trouble. Results (Round 9): Tania Sachdev 6.5 drew with Soumya Swaminathan 6; Mary Ann Gomes 5.5 lost to Swati Ghate 6.5; Dronavalli Harika 6 drew with Nisha Mohota 5.5; Kiran Manisha Mohanty 6.5 bt Nimmy George 5; Eesha Karavade 5 drew with Divyasri Ch. 5; Sai Meera 4.5 drew with P Priya 5; Pon Krithika 4 lost to Padmini Rout 5; Amruta Mokal 5 bt P Uthra 4; S Nabeela Farheen 3.5 lost to R Aarthie 5; Anuprita Patil 3.5 lost to R Preethi 4; Swati Mohota 4 bt Dhyani Dave 3; Rucha Pujari 4 bt S Harini 3; MR Sangeetha 3.5 drew with Savetha CH 3; S Athirai bye. I hope to have a report on the final standings up and running at Chess Femme News later tonight.