Defending champion Padmini Rout of PSPB maintained the sole lead with five points after beating team-mate International Master Nisha Mohota in the sixth round of the 43rd National Women Premier Chess Championship here today.
Playing white side of a Caro-Kann defence, Padmini used her Rook and Bishop combination to good effect in the end game to outwit Nisha in 62 moves.
Past the half way stage of the event, Padmini now enjoys a crucial half point lead over nearest contender and six time champion Vijayalakshmi, who came back strongly after her fifth round debacle to score a resounding victory over Mary Ann Gomes.
Playing with black pieces in a Ruy Lopez game, Vijayalakshmi displayed great tactical skills to inflict first defeat for Mary in the championship.
Top seed Eesha Karavade also set aside her fifth round shock defeat against Swati Ghate to register a hard fought victory over team-mate and former world junior champion Soumya Swaminathan.
With this crucial victory, Eesha moved to lone third spot with four points while Soumya slipped to fourth spot with 3.5 points. M Mahalakshmi of Tamil Nadu defeated her state-mate P Bala Kannamma to also elevate herself to 3.5 points.
In other sixth round encounters, Andhra Pradesh girl Pratyusha Bodda registered her first win in the championship over Swati Ghate while Kiran Manisha Mohanty and R Vaishali signed peace.
Results (Round-6): Mary Ann Gomes of PSPB (2.5) lost to Vijayalakshmi S of AI (4.5); Bala Kannnamma P of TN (2.5) lost to Mahalakshmi M of TN (3.5); Padmini Rout of PSPB (5) beat Nisha Mohota of PSPB (2.5); Eesha Karavade of PSPB (4) beat Soumya Swaminathan of PSPB (3.5); Pratyusha Bodda of AP (1.5) beat Swati Ghate of LIC (1.5); Vaishali R of TN (2.5) drew with Kiran Manisha Mohanty of LIC (2.5).
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