Safira joins Saheli in second spot

By Raghunandan Gokhale

KALYAN, JUNE 16. Tamil Nadu's Safira Shanaz (5.5) scored a smashing victory over IWM Pallavi Shah (4.5) of LIC to join Saheli Barua in the joint second place, behind S. Vijayalakshmi (6.5) of Indian Airlines, in the ninth round of 26th National women's `A' chess championship, for the Mayors Trophy, here on Friday.

Saheli has excellent chances to catch Vijayalakshmi as the latter is facing a bye in the next round on Saturday. Vijayalakshmi's younger sibling Meenakshi (5) is so far unbeaten and has a good chance to get into the Indian team.

Vijayalakshmi scored an easy victory over S. Sujatha (3.5) after two consecutive defeats. This has placed the top seed once again at the top of the ladder. However she will have to play well in the remaining rounds as both Safira and Saheli are expected to catch up with her on Saturday.

Vijayalakshmi once again played the Caro Kann and won a pawn in the opening and Sujatha was too erratic to trouble the top seed in the complicated position. Vijayalakshmi slowly organised her pieces for a decisive breakthrough in the centre and managed to win an exchange. Thereafter it was a matter of simple technique for the holder of three WGM norms. Sujatha resigned on 35th move.

Vijayalakshmi was in her usual confident mood and had removed all the traces of nervousness from her demeanour. She will face Safira on Sunday, Aarthie on Monday and sister Meenakshi on Tuesday. Comparatively Saheli has easier opposition though she has to tackle Bhagyashree on Saturday and IWM Pallavi on Monday.

Taking advantage of Swati Ghate's weakness against Petroff's Defence, Saheli had Swati into the corner. She was simply following an old game played by her husband GM Dibyendu Barua. ``Swati's push of her f pawn was a mistake and I had many promising continuations there but missed all of them'' said Saheli after the game. It was a matter of touch and go for Swati who hanged on for dear life in that slippery position.

Saheli's pressure did not allow Swati to come out of the bind but at the same time the second seed did not allow an easy win to Saheli. Finally the game entered an equal endgame and Saheli offered a draw to Swati on 39th move. For the second time in this championship, the lady from Calcutta let her opponent escape after outplaying her.

IWM Pallavi Shah (4.5) of LIC was on Cloud Nine after her fighting victory over Vijayalakshmi on Thursday. She was playing for win against Safira with an advantage of white pieces but her dreams were shattered on Friday. Pallavi had her eyes fixed on the weak pawn at a6. She decided to throw caution to the wind and played 19. Qa1 when she should have gone for 19. Nd5 with equal chances for both the players. Her own king was stuck in the centre and Pallavi had only the weak pawn in her sights and trained all her pieces on the weakling.

Safira's 21. Bb5 imprisoned the white monarch in the centre and when Pallavi tried to get her king rook into action via h3, Safira struck a lightning blow with her temporary bishop sacrifice 24. Bd2+.

Pallavi's king was dragged out of the centre and had to take shelter on the queen side after losing exchange and two pawns. Pallavi resigned on 44th move after Safira had survived the time scramble.

An ice cool Meenakshi (5) survived dangerous king-side pressure from five times champion Bhagyashree Thipsay (4.5) in a tense game arising out of the Spanish Opening. Bhagyashree appeared to be in the driver's seat till Meenakshi broke the centre and resumed operations through it. Finally it was Bhagyashree who had to struggle for a draw.

Bhagyashree's husband Pravin Thipsay was convinced that Bhagyashree missed a way to clear advantage when she moved her Bishop back to c2. However the WGM norm holder from IDBI, Mumbai maintained that she could find no way to superiority. Vijayalakshmi was watching he final part and thought that

Meenakshi missed a winning continuation somewhere.

The results (ninth round): Neha Singh (Bih) 2.5 bt Baisakhi Das (WB) 1, Swati Ghate (LIC) 4.5 drew with Saheli Barua (IR) 5.5, Bhagyashree Thipsay (IDBI) 4.5 drew with S. Meenakshi (TN) 5, Y. Prathiba (TN) 3 lost to R. Aarthie (Wipro) 4, Pallavi Shah (LIC) 4.5 lost to Safira Shahnaz (TN) 5.5, S. Sujatha (TN) 3.5 lost to S. Vijayalakshmi (IA) 6.5, Anupama Gokhale 4 - Bye.

The moves: Pallavi Shah vs Safira Shehnaz: 1. e4 c5, 2. Nf3 Nc6, 3. d4 cxd4, 4. Nxd4 Nf6, 5. Nc3 e5, 6. Ndb5 d6, 7. Bg5 a6, 8.Na3 b5, 9. Nd5 Be7, 10. Bxf6 Bxf6, 11. c3 O-O, 12. Nc2 Bg5, 13. a4 bxa4, 14. Rxa4 a5, 15. Bb5 Ne7, 16. Ncb4 Be6, 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7, 18. Bc6 Ra7, 19. Qa1 Qc7, 20. Bd5 Bd7, 21. Ra3 Bb5, 22. h4 Bf4, 23. b3 Qc5, 24. Rh3 Bd2+, 25. Kxd2 Qxf2+, 26. Kc1 Qf1+, 27. Kb2 Qxg2+, 28. Nc2 Qxh3, 29. c4 Bd7, 30. Qe1 Qh2, 31. Qe3 Rc7, 32. Qb6 Bg4, 33. Ra1 Rd7, 34. Qxa5 Qxh4, 35. b4 Be6, 36. Bc6 Rdd8, 37. Qa6 Qf2, 38. Bd5 Bxd5, 39. exd5 e4, 40.b5 Qc5, 41. Qc6 f5, 42. Kc3 Rc8, 43. Qxc5 dxc5, 44. Re1 Kf7. Pallavi resigned.

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