Tania Sachdev wins Indian Women’s Championship

34th Women’s National A Chess Championship of India

The Bank of Maharashtra sponsored 34th Women’s National A Chess Championship was organized by Symbiosis Spa Chess School at Symbiosis Center for Health Care Campus, Range Hills Road, Kirkee, Pune. The sponsors’ list also includes State Bank of India, Indian Bank, Union Bank, Syndicate Bank and Pravin Masale. The Technical Assistance was provided by Buddhibal Kreeda Trust.

The tournament, which includes the cream of Indian women’s chess among its participants, offers a record prize money of Rs.250,000 (Euro 4,350 or US $6,400). The top three players from this tournament will be selected to represent India at the World Chess Olympiad to be held at Dresden, Germany in 2008, while the top six players will comprise the Indian women’s team for various other international events.

No problem: Tania Sachdev in her final round game in Pune

In the final round WGM Tania Sachdev of Delhi beat Padmini Rout of Orissa to win the 34th Women’s National A Chess Championship. Tania (tiebreak 66), Kiran Monisha Mohanty (tiebreak 64.5) and Soumya Swaminathan (tiebreak 63.5) scored an identical eight points out of possible 11, but Tania’s better tiebreak score ensured her the title.

She was the only player to remain undefeated throughout the tournament, and so her title finish is a very fitting prize. This is her second consecutive National A triumph. Tania, Soumya and Kiran have qualified to the Indian women’s team that will play the Chess Olympiad. Koneru Humpy is directly seeded into the Women’s Olympiad team. Swati Ghate, Dronavalli Harika and Nisha Mohota took places 4 to 6 and made it to the Indian team for other tournaments.

Winners: Tania Sachdev, Kiran Manisha Mohanty and Soumya Swaminathan

The top board game between WIM Soumya Swaminathan of Maharashtra and top seed IM Dronavalli Harika of Andhra Pradesh had a dramatic finish. Harika playing the black side of the Sicilian Najdorf got a comfortable position and soon capitalized on Soumya’s mistakes to win a rook for knight and pawn. Faced with a losing position Soumya tried to complicate matters and Harika made a mistake on move 33. Soumya took advantage by sacrificing her knight in order to give perpetual checks. After that a draw would a logical conclusion but Harika tried to avoid the checks and landed her king in a mating net. Harika and her opponent, who hadn’t realized till then were suddenly shocked to find out that Black is getting mated. Harika offered a draw and Soumya actually gave it a 2-minute thought before noticing that she can give checkmate. After Soumya refused the draw offer, Harika resigned. Both had tears in their eyes only for Soumya they were tears of joy!

Top seed IM Harika Dronavalli, rated 2480

Swaminathan,Soumya (2244) - Dronavalli,Harika (2480)
National Women A Chess Championship 2007 PUNE INDIA (11), 15.11.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 h5 9.Qd2 Nbd7 10.a4 Rc8 11.a5 Be7 12.Be2 g6 13.0-0 h4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 Nh5 16.c4 Ng7 17.f4 Nf5 18.Rac1 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 exf4 20.Qxf4 0-0 21.Bg4 Rc7 22.Bxd7 Bg5 23.Qxd6 Rxd7 24.Qb4 Bxc1 25.Rxc1 Re8 26.Qd2 Rde7 27.Nd4 Re4 28.Rf1 Qc7 29.Qf2 R4e7 30.b3 Qxa5 31.Qf6 Qc3 32.Kh1 Qd3 33.Kg1

Now 33...Qe3+ followed by ...h3 should win for Black, but Harika errs: 33...Rd7. Throwing away the win. 34.Nf5 gxf5 35.Qg5+ Kf8 36.Qh6+. White has escaped with a perpetual, but Harika cannot accept this. 36...Ke7? 37.Re1+ Kd8?? 38.Qb6+

Check it out, it is mate in two. 1-0. Soumya Swaminathan’s great run continues as this is the same year she has made five norms (1 IM norm, 1 WGM norm and 3 WIM norms) in Spain in July. She got her second WGM norm here. Kiran Monisha Mohanty also made her maiden WGM norm. Kiran had a dream tournament. Her play was also appreciated by all and mostly free of any dramatic errors.

WIM Kiran Mohanty of Orissa playing the Black side of Sicilian Najdorf against P Priya of Tamil Nadu got an advantage after the queens were exchanged. She soon won a pawn and the game steered towards a rook, bishop and pawns endgame. Kiran positioned her pieces excellently and marched her king into her opponent’s camp to win the opposite colored bishops endgame.

WGM Eesha Karavade also chose the Sicilian Najdorf against city mate WGM Swati Ghate of LIC. Swati maintained a slight advantage right after the opening and eventually struck the decisive blow in the endgame to win the full point and a clear fourth place. IM Dronavalli Harika of Andhra Pradesh finished a clear 5th with 7 points while WGM Nisha Mohota of PSPB beat Mary Ann Gomes to finish clear 6th on 6.5 points.

The 11 member strong contingent of Tamil Nadu was disappointed as it turned out to be a very rare instance when none could finish in the Indian team. The absence of Vijayalaxmi and Meenakshi was certainly felt. On the other hand the hosts had something to celebrate as two Puneites made it to the Indian team, Soumya finding a place in the Olympiad team , an icing on the cake.

Final Ranking

Links Tournament web site Download games (zipped PGN) Download free PGN reader ChessBase Light