Black wins for Viji, Mahalakshmi

With Vijayalakshmi's win over Mary Ann Gomes, she stayed in second position with 4.5 points, while Padmini Rout of PSPB maintained sole lead with five points beating Nisha Mohota. Viji played a tactical game in the Ruy Lopez and made the right exchanges at the right time. Mary had to accept doubled pawns on the Queenside for the bishop pair she got but Viji put pressure on the doubled pawn and won a pawn to take the game to a rook and minor piece ending in which she sacrificed an exchange to win a rook after 67 moves.

Mary Ann 1Gomes of PSPB (2.5) lost to Vijayalakshmi S of AI (4.5); Bala Kannnamma P of TN (2.5) lost to Mahalakshmi M of TN (3.5); Padmini Rout of PSPB (5) beat Nisha Mohota of PSPB (2.5); Eesha Karavade of PSPB (4) beat Soumya Swaminathan of PSPB (3.5); Pratyusha Bodda of AP (1.5) beat Swati Ghate of LIC (1.5); Vaishali R of TN (2.5) drew with Kiran Manisha Mohanty of LIC (2.5)