Viji keeps lead in women's national chess

Five top-board games ended in draws as experienced campaigner Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman of AI continued to lead, with six points after being held to draw by TN-mate J Saranya. Swati Ghate and Kiran Manisha Mohanty, LIC’s two senior players, split the point on the second board, Mary Ann Gomes of PSPB drew with Tamil Nadu’s R Vaishali, Soumya Swaminathan of PSPB dropped a half point to Priyanka K of TN and M Mahalakshmi drew with Tarini Goyal of Chandigarh in top-board action. 

Swati Ghate, R Vaishali, J Saranya, Michelle Catherina, Divya Lakshmi and Kiran Manisha Mohanty shared the second position with 5.5 Chennai girl Michelle Catherina of AI beat Mithali Madhukar Patil of Maharashtra to get into the top bracket along with Divya Lakshmi of TN, who defeated team-mate Pon N Krithika. Top seed Eesha Karavade of PSPB staged a recovery when she outwitted Sai K Nirupama of AP to reach five points a shared third place in standings. In minor upset, Arpita Mukherjee (Odisha) beat veteran Nisha Mohota of PSPB.

Off-spinner D. Krishna Kumar scalped five wickets for 21 runs as Ashok Leyland beat India Japan Lighting in the Lucas TVS Thiruvallur DCA Trophy here. Brief scores: Lucas TVS 163 in 29.4 overs (M. Ramesh 80, T.S.R.  Venkateswara 40, A. Senthil Kumar 3/21) lost to HVF 152 in 28.2 overs (E. K. Binu 40, V. Jaganathan 32, M. Ramesh 3/26); Ashok Leyland Ennore 156 in 30 overs (N. Jai Krishnan 25, C. Ashok Kumar 25) beat India Japan Lighting 82 in 15.3 overs (D. Krishna Kumar 5/21, C. Ashok Kumar 3/21).