Women Challengers Round 2+3: Upsets all around!

Seven players share lead with 3.0/3

After three rounds, seven players share lead at the 44th National Women Challengers 2017. They are top-seed WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB), second seeded WGM Mary Ann Gomes (PSPB), eight seed WFM Srija Seshadri (Del), R.Divya Lakshmi (TN), fifteenth seed WIM Mahalakshmi M (TN), WIM Pranali S Dharia (Mah) and K.Priyanka (TN) with three points from three rounds. It was a double round day on Saturday.

Analysis by IM Sagar Shah

Interview with WGM Soumya Swaminathan

By C.K. Muralidharan

WGM Soumya Swaminathan, aged 28, an employee with PSPB, a former National champion in 2011,World junior championship title winner in 2009, Commonwealth women's champion in 2012 and had a second place finish in the 2016 Moscow Open. Soumya is one of the top women chess players' in the country, and the top-seed at the ongoing 44th National Women's Challengers Chess championships 2017. Soumya Swaminathan spoke to ChessBase India's correspondent on the side-lines of the tourney here on Saturday.

We have mentioned so many of your feat. What's next for you now?

Soumya: I don't think about that and do not have any specific targets. I intend to play well in the forthcoming competition and put up a good show. I want play fighting and interesting games and work hard for success.

Any specific preparations for this championships?

Not really. I concentrated on my fitness and prepared myself mentally with some meditation and yoga sessions before coming to Mysore.

How did you feel after winning the 2011 National championships and followed it up with the Commonwealth title in 2012? 

I felt elated after winning the National championships and the Commonwealth title in a row in successive years. I was happy I could play some fighting games and ended up on the winning note.

When was your first Olympiad representation for India and your performance at these top events?

My first Olympiad was in 2012 at Turkey. I started badly in the tournament but came back to win some important games. It was a good experience. In 2016, at Azerbaijan, I played really well and the Indian team finished 5th. I think we need a good Grand Master coach and if given that support we can achieve much more success.

Your best performance so far?

My World juniors win, my National championship win in 2011, Asian games bronze medal are all close to my heart and all of these sum my best performances so far.

About support from PSPB? 

They have been giving excellent support and are fantastic and very helpful. I play without pressure and am thankful to them for some splendid support.

About your future? 

I have no specific goals. Of-course, I want to become a grandmaster. I would like to move step by step towards that mark and continue playing some fighting and interesting games to improve as a overall player.

About your coach? 

Presently I work on my own. I take specific coaching from GM Abhijit Kunte.

About the support from AICF? 

They have been conducting more number of tournaments, but they need to have more women specific tournaments on round-robin basis and introduce chess league. If they provide us with a good grandmaster coach it would be helpful to achieve more success.

Second seeded Mary Ann Gomes (PSPB) playing with white pieces on the second board scored a well earned win over WFM K.Sai Nirupama (AP) in 48 moves. WFM Lakshmi C held WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty (LIC) to a creditable draw in 31 moves.

Andria played the Scotch and beat Michelle. Although her opening play was not the most ambitious, it goes without saying that Scotch is a very interesting opening that can be tried against 1.e4 e5. Not only do you avoid the Berlin and other long drawish theoretical lines, but are also able to indulge in fresh positions. Garry Kasparov was one of the biggest adherents of this opening, and when he played at the Saint Louis blitz last year, Scotch was his main weapon. We have an excellent DVD in the ChessBase India shop related to the Scotch, by our very own GM Parimarjan Negi. Being a theoretical expert, Negi is the right person to acquaint you with all the knowledge you need against 1.e4 e5 with white.

WGM Swati Ghate (2.5 points) came back strongly after a drawn game in the second round to register a win against Stuti Bhanot in 54 moves. WIM Rucha Pujari was held to a draw by WCM Jyothsna on the fourth board in 45 moves.

Here is Sanskriti's win over Pratyusha:

In some of the other mini-upsets in round two WIM Nandhidhaa Pv (AAI) was held to a draw by Stuti Bhanot (Har)-rating 1869 in 39 moves. Commonwealth champion WGM Swati Ghate (LIC) was held to a creditable draw by WCM Isha Sharma of Karnataka (Rating 1878) in 47 moves. 

Results of round 2

Complete results

Results of round three:

Complete results

Ranking after round three

Complete list of ranking

Pairing for round 4

Complete pairing list 

Download games in PGN format

About the author

C.K.Muralidharan is a 55-year-old Free-lance Sports Journalist based in Mysore. He has 20 years of experience in sports journalism. He contributes to the Hindu National daily and Daily Star of Mysore on all sports in Mysore for the last 15 years. He has been covering sports in Mysore on his website - www.mysoresport.com. He is the promoter of Mysore Professional Chess Academy. IM M.S.Thejkumar is the Vice-President of the Academy and supervises the coaching programme. He works with the Mysore District Chess Association in order to spread the game of chess through the chess in schools program.