Harika wins Nat. junior girls'chess

Harika Dronavalli of Andhra Pradesh won the 16th National junior girls' chess championship, defeating statemate and second seed Vinuthna N in the 10th and penultimate round on Tuesday.

The victory swelled her points tally to 8.5, which assured her the crown with a round to spare.

Even if she loses her final round game, she will emerge winner with a better tie-break score.

Maryanne Gomes, joint leader in the previous round, was defeated by Priya of CAPA Chess Academy.

Gomes is now in second spot with Priya and Eesha Karavade of Venus Chess Academy, with 7.5 points each.

Delphin C (TN) is in third place with seven points.

Priya played Mary on the top board and won in 38 moves in the Sicilian Alapin variation.

Priya had earlier defeated the then sole leader Nilavoli in the eighth round.

Priya got a slight advantage in the opening. A pawn sacrifice by Mary acted in her favour. Priya later got Mary's rook for her bishop and entered a winning end game.

On the second board, Harika, the world under-12 girls' silver medallist, defeated Vinuthna in a Sicilian Rosoolimo variation. Harika was better placed in the middle game and forced her opponent to part with her piece. Vinuthna resigned on the 36th move.

The sole leader till the seventh round, Nilavoli H of Tamil Nadu went out of contention when she lost to Eesha Karavade.

Eesha, in the Sicilian defence, played early 65 and got a pawn after 38 moves. Eesha slowly built her position to win in 60 moves in the king and pawn ending.

The points position (before the start of the 11th and final round):

1. Harika D 8.5 (AP).
2. Mary Ann Gomes (GNCA), Eesha Karavade (Venus Chess Academy), Priya P (CAPA) 7.5 each.
3. Delphin C (TN) 7.
4. Nilavoli H (TN), Prathiba Y (TN), Malarselvi (TN) 6.5 each.
5. Vinuthna (AP), Madhuri Patil (MAH), Lakshmi Praneetha (AP), Soumya Swaminathan (MAH), Banupriya S (TN) 6 each.