Date:01/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/01/stories/2003020103612400.htm

Sport - Chess

Aarthie scales new peak

By Raghunandan Gokhale

Krishnan Sasikiran and Aarthi Ramaswamy who won the men's and women's titles in the National A chess championship in Mumbai on Friday. — Photo: Vivek Bendre

Mumbai Jan. 31. There is a new Queen on the Indian chess throne after a gap of five long years. WGM Aarthie Ramaswamy (9) of Wipro scaled a new peak in her illustrious career when she successfully defended a difficult position amidst high drama and annexed her maiden crown in the last and thirteenth round of National women `A' chess championship here today.

Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran's (16) third National title in the men's section was a special one for him as the 2664 rated super GM had to fight not only his opponents but also the rating scale too.

The GM representing PSPB, Chennai always loves to fight the odds and his mammoth 16 points out of 20 rounds created a new record for the future champions.

WGM S. Vijayalaxmi (9) of Indian Airlines scored a quick win over R. Sai Meera (Indian Bank) and had to undergo mental agony as she watched her younger sister S. Meenakshi (6), horribly short of time, making a mess of her winning chances and let Aarthie escape with a draw.

It was a perfect finale to the keenly contested championship.

Aarthie's tie-break under Koya system proved to be better than Vijayalaxmi and the latter had lost her crown after 5 years' reign.

Aarthie dedicated this win to her parents, her sponsors and her coach IM R.B. Ramesh. She had started the championship with a win over Vijayalaxmi and finished it with a superb defence against S. Meenakshi.

IWM Nisha Mohota (8.5) of LIC had the best chance to win the championship after ten rounds but her poor finish of one point in the last three rounds cost her dearly. Nisha drew today with Asian Junior girls' champion Tania Sachdev (6.5) and finished third.

Twelve-year-old Wipro girl D. Harika (8.5) was fourth after her easy win over Swathi Mohota in the final round. It is Harika's maiden entry in the Indian women team.

IWM Swathi Ghate (8) of LIC had to toil hard to beat her Pune citymate Eesha Karavade (6) of Wipro. Swathi finished fifth and has to play the Women's National `B' championship to qualify for National Women A again.

Tania Sachdev (6.5), sponsored by Hughes Software took the sixth place and will be part of Indian team going abroad but has to play the National Women B like Swathi.

The Grandmasters ruled the roost in the final standings. Grandmaster P. Harikrishna (14) and GM Abhijit Kunte (12.5) were both unbeaten. They finished second and third behind Champion K. Sasikiran.

Veteran GM Dibyendu Barua (12) scored over M.R. Venkatesh (10) to stand fourth. India's latest GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (11.5) of PSPB clinched the fifth berth by outwitting teammate IM V. Sarvanan (6) in Sicilian Defence.

IM Sunder Rajan Kidambi's (11.5) timely win over tailender S.S. Soman in the final round helped the Bharat Petroleum Officer to take the sixth and final place in the Indian team.

IM Neelotpal Das (11.5) of Railways needed a win to clinch the sixth place but an unfortunate draw against British Champion IM R.B. Ramesh relegated him to the National B championship.

The results: Women: Round 13: S. Meenakshi (6) drew with Aarthie Ramaswamy (9), S. Vijayalakshmi (9) bt Sai Meera (3.5), Swati Mohota (2.5) lost to Dronavalli Harika (8.5), Tania Sachdev (6.5) drew with Nisha Mohota(8.5), Eesha Karavade (6) lost to Swathi Ghate (8), Y. Pratibha(4.5) lost to Krutika Nadig (4), J.E. Kavitha(2): bye.

Men: Round 21: Neelotpal Das (11.5) drew with R. B. Ramesh (8.5), S. Prathamesh Mokal (6) drew with Abhijit Kunte (12.5), Surya Sekhar Ganguly (12) bt V. Saravanan (6), Lanka Ravi (10) drew with Arvind Shastry (8), Dibyendu Barua (12.5) bt M. R. Venkatesh (10), G. B. Prakash (9) drew with P. Harikrishna (14), Suvrajit Saha (8.5) drew with Tejas Bakre (11), Sriram Jha (7.5) drew with Krishnan Sasikiran (16), S. Satyapragyan (8.5) drew with Praveen Thipsay (11), S. Soman (6) lost to K. Sundarrajan (11.5), Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury (10): Bye.

Final Standings: Men: 1. Krishnan Sasikiran, 2. P. Harikrishna, 3. Abhijit Kunte, 4. Dibyendu Barua, 5. Surya Sekhar Ganguly, 6. S. Kidambi, 7. Neelotpal Das, 8. Tejas Bakre, 9. Praveen Thipsay, 10. Saptarshi Roychowdhury, 11. Lanka Ravi, 12. M. R. Venkatesh, 13. G.B. Prakash, 14. Suvrajit Saha, 15. S. Satyapragyan, 16. R. B. Ramesh 8.5, 17. Arvind Shastry, 18. Sriram Jha, 19. S. Soman, 20. Prathamesh Mokal, 21. V. Saravanan.

Women: 1. Aarthie Ramaswamy, 2. S. Vijayalakshmi, 3. Nisha Mohota, 4. Dronavalli Harika, 5. Swathi Ghate, 6. Tania Sachdev, 7. S. Meenakshi, 8. Eesha Karavade, 9. Y. Pratibha, 10. Krutika Nadig, 11. Sai Meera, 12. Swati Mohota, 13. J.E. Kavitha.