Date:09/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/09/stories/2004120903271900.htm

Sport - Chess

Meenakshi consolidates lead

BEIRUT, DEC. 8. S. Meenakshi overpowered China's Zhang Jilin to open up a one-point lead over three Chinese challengers after five rounds of Asian women's chess championship here on Tuesday.

The fifth seeded Meenakshi, with 4.5 points, looks poised for a great finish in the nine-round, 18-player event.

Meenakshi's sister and top seed S. Vijayalakshmi, however, continued to struggle. After losing the opening round to teammate Tania Sachdev, Vijayalakshmi suffered another defeat at the hands of 13th seeded Chinese girl Hou Yifan in the fourth round.

In the fifth round, Vijayalakshmi drew with Pune-girl Eesha Karavade. The duo was on 2.5 points, half a point behind 10th seed Tania who drew with China's Wang Yu and Ju Wenjun, seeded two and seven, in succession.

Action resumes on Thursday after a day of rest.

The results (Indians unless stated):

Fifth round: S. Meenakshi (4.5) bt Zhang Jilin (Chn) (3); Shen Yang (Chn) (3.5) drew with Gu Xiaobing (Chn) (3.5); Hou Yifan (Chn) (3) lost to Wang Yu (Chn) (3.5); Tania Sachdev (3) drew with Ju Wenjun (3); S. Vijayalakshmi (3) drew with Eesha Karavade (3); Shirin Navabi (Ira) (2.5) drew with Sofya Zigangirova (Kaz) (2.5); Maisa Ovezova (Tkm) (1) lost to Knarik Mouradian (Leb) (3); Atousa Pourkashiyan (Ira) (2) bt Aykamar Myalikgulyewa (Tkm) (1); Maya Jalloul (Leb) (1) bt Hiba Omrani (Leb) (0).

Fourth round: Gu Xiaobing drew with Meenakshi; Zhang Jilin drew with Shen Yang; Hou Yifan bt Vijayalakshmi; Wang Yu drew with Tania; Eesha lost to Ju Wenjun; Sofya Zigangirova; bt Maisa Ovezova; Knarik Mouradian bt Atousa Pourkashiyan; Shirin Navabi bt Maya Jalloul; Aykam Myalikgulyewa bt Hiba Omrani.

Third round: Meenakshi bt Hou Yifan; Shen Yang drew with Wang Yu; Ju Wenjun lost to Zhang Jilin; Gu Xiaobing bt Sofya Zigangirova; Atousa Pourkashiyan lost to Eesha; Vijayalakshmi bt Knarik Mouradian; Aykam Myalikgulyewa lost to Tania; Maya Jalloul lost to Maisa Ovezova; Hiba Omrani lost to Shirin Navabi.