Rout zeroes in on title
With just three rounds to come, Padmini took her tally to 6.5 points and remained a full point ahead of her teammates Soumya Swaminathan and top seed Eesha Karavade.
​New Delhi: Defending champion and International Master Padmini Rout of PSPB remained on course for her second straight title with a finely crafted victory against GM-elect S Vijayalakshmi of Air India in the eighth round of 43rd National Women Premier Chess Championship now underway here.
With just three rounds to come, Padmini took her tally to 6.5 points and remained a full point ahead of her teammates Soumya Swaminathan and top seed Eesha Karavade.
Starting with the close Ruy Lopez as white, Padmini seized the initiative while Vijayalakshmi never quite recovered and lost after 49 moves.
Meanwhile, Eesha defeated M Mahalakshmi and Soumya proved superior to R Vaishali; Results Round 8: Mary Ann Gomes of PSPB (4) beat Bala Kannamma P of TN (3.5); Padmini Rout of PSPB (6.5) beat Viajayalakshmi S of AI (4.5); Eesha Karavade of PSPB (5.5) beat Mahalakshmi M of TN (4);
Pratyusha Bodda of AP (2.5) beat Nisha Mohota of PSPB (3); Vaishali R of TN (2.5) lost to Soumya Swaminathan of PSPB (5.5); Kiran Manisha Mohanty of LIC (3) lost to Swati Ghate of LIC (3.5).
