The Tamil Nadu player shocked Woman Grand Master Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa in a 5th round clash in the tournament conducted by the Maharashtra Chess Association (MCA) at Rambhau Mhalgi Probodhni Keshav Shrusti.
Playing on the second board, Vaishali opted for an English opening with a pawn structure against her Goan opponent. In the middle game she destroyed Bhakti's pawn structure of the Kingside and generated a strong attack.
After Bhakti had a misplaced Knight on the Queen side, Vaishali went for the kill and, on the 29th move, won a Rook, forcing her opponent to resign.
Nisha opted for Alekhine defense, which is rarely played at top level, but Catherina played well and Nisha agreed for a draw with pawn up when no progress could be made.
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At the end of five rounds, WFM Vaishali is leading with 5 points followed by IM Nisha Mohota, Nimmy AG and Michelle Catherina, all with 4.5 points each.
Results (round 5, top 10 boards): WIM Michelle Catherina P (TN) 4.5 points drew with IM Nisha Mohota (PSPB) 4.5; WFM Vaishali R (TN) 5 beat WGM Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa), WFM Varshini V (TN) 4 drew with WFM Saranya J (TN) 4; Harshita Guddanti (AP) 3.5 lost to Nimmy AG (Ker) 4; IM Tania Sachdev (AI) 4 beat WFM Srija Seshadri (TN) 3; Priyanka Nutakki (AP) 4 beat WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB) 3; WGM Swati Ghate (LIC) 3 lost to Priyanka K (TN) 4; WCM Tejaswini Sagar (Mah) 3.5 drew with WIM Ivana Maria Furtado (Goa) 3.5; Alka Das (Jha) 3.5 drew with WIM Nandhidhaa PV (TN) 3.5; WFM Rucha Pujari (Mah) 3.5 drew with Lasya G (AP) 3.5.