Russia WGM Olga Girya (five points) stretched her lead to one point against her nearest rivals Cristina-Adela Foisor and Padmini Rout after a hard-earned win over Eesha Karavade in the sixth round of the AICF-KIIT Cup International Category-13 Women Chess Tournament at KIIT Campus here on Thursday.
Olga got a slight advantage from the opening against Indian IM Eesha Karavade, who deployed the Ragozin Defence. Olga capitalised on Eesha’s mistakes in the rook ending to seal victory in 58 moves.
Armenian GM Elina Danielian gathered some momentum with the black pieces in the Symmetrical English opening against Romania IM Foisor. However, Danielian lost her advantage when knights were exchanged resulting in endgame of two bishops for each with equal pawns. A repetition occurred when Cristina was about to place her bishop on the a3-g8 diagonal, ending in a truce after 42 moves.
Local WGM Padmini continued her impressive run in the 11-round tournament by forcing top seed German IM Elizabeth Paehtz to a 47-move draw. Both the players tested their opening knowledge in the Classical French before Paehtz was the first to deviate on the 16th move (Be7) Players split points in the rook and minor pieces ending following a repetition of moves.
IM Lilit Mkrtchian (Armenia) and WGM Mary Ann Gomes (India) posted wins in the other decisive games of the day, getting the better of IM Nisha Mohota (India) and local WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty respectively. The contest between WGM Swathi Ghate (India) and WGM Guo Qi (China) lasted 63 moves before ending in a draw.
RESULTS (Round 6): Foisor Cristina-Adela (Rou, 4) drew with Elina Dalielina (Arm, 3), Padmini Rout (Ind, 4) drew with Elizabeth Paehtz (Ger, 3), Guo Qi (Chn, 3) drew with Swathi Ghate (Ind, 2.5), Giriya Olga (Rus, 5) beat Eesha Karavade (Ind, 2.5), Mary Ann Gomes (Ind, 2.5) beat Kiran Manisha Mohanty (Ind], 1), Nisha Mohota (Ind, 2) lost to Mkrtchian Lilit (Arm, 3.5).