Top seed International Master Eesha Karavade scored a comfortable victory over TN girl Varsha C R in the first round of the 43rd National Women Challengers Chess championship here today.
Following the top seed with easy first round wins were Woman Grandmaster Gomes Mary Ann and International Masters Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman and Nisha Mohota.
The tournament as attracted 118 players from 20 states, including 32 FIDE titled players. Played under Swiss System, this event runs for 11 rounds.
Earlier, the tournament was inaugurated by nine time National Champion and Arjuna Awardee Manuel Aaron. Present on the dais were Shri D V Sundar, Vice President, FIDE, Shri B Murugavel, Vice President, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association and Shri V Hariharan, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association.
Important Results (Round 1) Eesha Karavade bt Varsha C R, Minki Sinha lost to Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman, Soumya Swaminathan bt Pallavi, Abirama Srinithi G lost to Pratyusha Bodda, Gomes Mary Ann bt Goyal Arunima, Dakshinya T R S lost to Vaishali R, Jayashree P Sankpal lost to Mohota Nisha, Bandodkar Vandana S lost to Michelle Catherina.
