Mary Ann Gomes Retains Indian National Chess Title

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Mary Ann Gomes has won the Indian national women's chess title for the second time at the event running from Premier title at the event running from October 22 to November 3 and was sponsored by the Jain Group and organised smoothly by the Jalgaon District Chess Association and the Jain Sport Academy.

Mary Ann Gomes who dedicated her first title at Chennai last year to her mother had the best of tie-break after four players tied for first on 7.5 points. She suffered a defeat to Swati Ghate and bounced back very well. She won the last two games to retain her title. After nine rounds she looked like she was out of contention for the title race by the leaders slowed down and Mary Ann caught up.

Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa who became a Woman Grandmaster recently finished second. The champion of 2010 Soumya Swaminathan of Pune was third and Eesha Karavade who had never won was fourth. At least seven players were in lead or joint lead after a sole leader emerged. Leaders: Meenakshi 4/4; Swati Ghate 5.5/7; Nisha Mohota, Bhakti Kulkarni 6/8; Bhakti Kulkarni, Eesha Karavade, Soumya Swaminathan 7/10.

Final placings: 1-4. WGM Mary Ann Gomes, WGM Bhakti Kulkarni, WGM Soumya Swaminathan, IM Eesha Karavade 7.5/11; 5-6. WGM Padmini Rout, WGM Kiran Mohanty 7 each; 7-11. IM Nisha Mohota, WGM S Meenakshi, WIM P Priya, S Harini, WFM Chandika Divyasree 6.5 each; 12-13. Bodda Pratyusha, WFM Swati Mohota 6 each; 14-22. WGM Swati Ghate, Nimmy George, Michelle Catherina, WGM Aarthie Ramaswamy, WIM Ivana Furtado, WFM Rucha Pujari, Cholleti Sahajasri, WFM K Sai Nirupama 5.5 each; 23-25. WGM Kruttika Nadig, WFM J Saranya, Shweta Gole 5 each; 26-28. Amruta Mokal, G Lasya, WFM N Raghavi 4.5 each; 29 WIM Bhagyashree Thipsay 4; 30 R Salini 3; 31 J Rajasurya 2.5

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel