AICF-KIIT Chess Cup: WGM Olga Girya in Sole Lead

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

Russian WGM Olga Girya maintained her lead with 2.5 points despite being forced to a draw by Indian IM Nisha Mohota in the third round of the AICF-KIIT Cup International Women Chess Championship at KIIT International School here on Tuesday. Involved in a theoretical battle from the Slav Defence, Mohota approached the game on positive note, winning a pawn on the 12th move. Olga accepted the challenge and entered complications, but when the smoke cleared the game petered out into a draw in the rook and pawn endgame.

After the completion of third round, four players, including top seed Elisabeth Paehtz and local star Padmini Rout, shared the second spot with two points. Paehtz won her first game by capitalising on not so ambitious play by Indian WGM Swathi Ghate. In a interesting duel between Odisha WGMs Padmini Rout and Kiran Manisha Mohanty, the former surprised her opponent with a rare Sicilian Defence. Neverthless Kiran had a tight grip over the position until the 25th move. Padmini’s knight move exchanging one of the two bishops helped her seize the edge. Padmini increased her advantage to seal win in 50 moves. In another decisive game of the day, Armenian IM Lilit Mkrtchian defeated Chinese WGM Guo Qi. Results (Round 3): Mary Ann Gomes (Ind, 0.5) lost to Foisor Cristina-Adela (Rou, 1.5), Nisha Mohota (Ind, 1.5) drew with Giriya Olga (Rus, 2.5), Mkrtchian Lilit (Arm, 2) bt Guo Qi (Chn, 1), Kiran Manisha Mohanty (Ind, 0.5) lost to Padmini Rout (Ind, 2), Eesha Karavade (Ind, 1.5) drew with Elina Dalielina (Arm, 2), Swathi Ghate (Ind, 1) lost to E Paehtz (Ger, 2).

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