Vijayalakshmi outwits Safira, moves ahead

By Raghunandan Gokhale

KALYAN, JUNE 18. International Woman Master and holder of three WGM norms S. Vijayalakshmi (7.5) of Indian Airlines regained the sole lead with a workmanlike victory over Safira Shanaz (6.5) of Tamil Nadu in the 11th round of the 26th National women's A chess championship here on Sunday. Women's FIDE-Master Saheli Barua (7) is just half point behind Vijayalakshmi.

With just two more rounds to go, Vijayalakshmi faces world under- 18 girls' champion R. Aarthie (5) and younger sister S. Meenakshi (6.5) while Saheli has to meet Pallavi Shah (6) and S. Sujatha (3.5) in the remaining rounds. IWM Anupama Gokhale (5) crashed out of the race for a slot in the Indian team after losing to second-seeded Swati Ghate (6.5) of LIC.

Safira Shanaz (6.5) has a bye in the penultimate round before meeting Aarthie in the final game. The Engineering graduate from Tamil Nadu, who was fighting for the championship till today, is in danger of losing her place in the Indian squad if she drops a point to Aarthie.

Vijayalakshmi was on the rampage against Safira who had defeated her three years ago in Calcutta. Vijayalakshmi, playing White, let the English Opening converted into Sicilian Defence. ``It turned out to be a sort of Hedgehog Maroczy Bind,'' explained Vijayalakshmi.

Safira, who was like a fish out of water when faced with a new position, misplaced her pieces. In particular, the placement of her dark Bishop and King's Rook cost her the point. Vijayalakshmi's 19)Bf6 broke Safira's castle and suddenly the Black Monarch was exposed to threats from all sides.

Vijayalakshmi's 24)Qg4+ was the beginning of the end. Safira desperately gave up a pawn for counterplay but the 21-year-old top seed was unrelenting in her attack. She had three extra pawns when Safira decided to stop the clock, signalling her resignation on the 39th move.

Clear understanding

While encountering Y. Pratibha (3) from the Black side of French Tarrasch Defence, Saheli exhibited her superb understanding of the position. She rarely played `Nb6' in the opening and launched an offensive on Pratibha's Queenside. Saheli's rampant `a' pawn disorganised the White Queen's wing.

Pratibha's Queenside was shattered beyond repair and Saheli was two pawns ahead by the 18th move. It was a matter of routine technique for a player of Saheli's class to convert the material advantage into a full point.

Saheli requires one more point for her IWM title. She faces IWM Pallavi Shah in the next game which might prove an acid test if she wants to have a shot at the title. However, the trend indicates that she might take a draw on Monday and wait for Vijayalakshmi's result with Aarthie.

Swati ends Anupama's ambitions

PSCB's Anupama Gokhale bowed out of the reckoning when she fell to Swati Ghate of LIC in 38 moves of Pirc Defence. Anupama's pawn sacrifice to open the Queenside was very well answered by Swati who broke through the centre. Anupama got a lively play for her pieces but fell short in the scramble for time.

Pallavi Shah (6) and S. Meenakshi (6.5) kept their chances alive by agreeing to a peace treaty in 17 moves of Sicilian Pelikan Defence. Meenakshi will meet Sujatha on Monday before taking on Vijayalakshmi in the final round.

Five-time National women champion Bhagyashree Thipsay (6) was still in the hunt after overcoming Baisakhi Das's stiff resistance. The 14-year-old Bengal girl fought gamely against the seasoned campaigner before going down in 69 moves of Sicilian Kann Defence. Bhagyashree crosses swords with archrival Anupama on Monday before taking on Neha Singh in the final round.

The out-of-form Aarthie had to struggle before seeing her inexperienced opponent crack and let her win the minor piece ending. Sujatha went for a King's Indian Attack and maintained the equilibrium till the end, but Aarthie's experience prevailed.

The Aarthie-Vijayalakshmi, Anupama-Bhagyashree and Saheli-Pallavi encounters will be crucial on Monday.

The results (11th round): Swati Ghate (LIC) 6.5 bt Anupama Gokhale (BPCL) 5; Bhagyashree Thipsay (IDBI) 6 bt Baisakhi Das (WB) 1; Y. Pratibha (TN) 3 lost to Saheli Barua (IR) 7; Pallavi Shah (LIC) 6 drew with Meenakshi (TN) 6.5; S. Sujatha (TN) 3.5 lost to R. Aarthie (Wipro) 5; S. Vijayalakshmi (IA) 7.5 bt Safira Shahnaz (TN) 6.5 and Neha Singh (Bih) 2.5 bye.

The moves:

S. Vijayalakshmi (white) vs Safira Shahnaz (black) 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Re1 Nc6 8. e4 O-O 9. b3 Rc8 10. Bb2 Qc7 11. d4 cxd4 12. Nb5 Qb8 13. Nbxd4 Rfd8 14. Qe2 d6 15. Ba3 Bf8 16. Rad1 Rd7 17. Bb2 Qa8 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Nd4 Bb7 21. Bh3 Re8 22. Rd3 Rdd8 23. Qg4+ Bg7 24. Nb5 Qb8 25. Red1 f5 26. exf5 exf5 27. Qh5 Be4 28. Nxd6 Bxd3 29. Qxf7+ Kh8 30. Nxe8 Rxe8 31. Rxd3 Qe5 32. Rd7 Qa1+ 33. Kg2 Rf8 34. Qe7 f4 35. gxf4 Rg8 36. Bg4 Qxa2 37. Rd8 Qxb3 38. Rxg8+ Kxg8 39. Be6+. Safira resigned.

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