Kazakhstan’s WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (ELO 2323) displaying a high degree of consistency registered her third consecutive win to grab the sole lead with three points at the end of the third round of the SBI Life-AICF Women Grandmaster Chess Championship, jointly organized by the Indian Chess School & South Mumbai Chess Academy under the auspices of All India Chess Federation (AICF) and played at The Acres Club, Chembur.
Kazakhstan’s WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva recorded her third successive win to enjoy the sole lead in the ongoing SBI Life-AICF Women Grandmaster Chess Championship.
Guliskhan, who had defeated WIM Vantika Agrawal (IND, 2279) in the second round, maintained the winning momentum scoring an easy win against Indian WIM Aakanksha Hagawane. The higher ranked Kazak player dominated play and went on to win from the white-side of Gruefeld Indian Defense in just 34 moves to move atop the standings with 3 points.
Top seed IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (ELO 2410) of Mongolia, who had scored a clinical win against Indian WIM Monnisha G.K. (2295) in the second round to share the lead Guliskhan, had a poor third round and was held to a draw by WIM Vantika Agarwal (2279) of India. The Indian player Vantika put up a solid defence, which Batkhuyag found hard to break down and ultimately settled for a draw.
Batkhuyag (2.5 points) is now in joint second place with Vietnam WGM Thi Kim Phung Vo (2376), who recorded an excellent victory over Russian WIM Elena Tomilova (2334).
IM Anna Zozulia (2314) of Belgium with 2 points is in fourth position while WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (2379) of Uzbekistan, WIM Vantika Agarwal (2279) and WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (2297), both from India are in joint fifth place with 1.5 points each.
The Indian players wil have to produce some stronger performances and get better results in the later rounds if they want to have a podium finish.
There 8-more rounds remaining to be played in this Rs 7.5 Lakh prize-money tournament which is being conducted by the Indian Chess School and South Mumbai Chess Academy.
Results – Round 2:
WIM Elena Tomilova (RUS, 2334) drew with WIM Srija Seshadri (IND, 2207).
WIM Monnisha G.K. (IND, 2295) lost to IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL, ELO 2410).
WIM Vantika Agrawal (IND, 2279) lost to WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ, 2323).
WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (IND, 2297) beat Rakshitta Ravi (IND, 2067).
WFM Divya Deshmukh (IND, 2138) lost to IM Anna Zozulia (BEL, 2314).
WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB, 2379) drew with WGM Thi Kim Phung Vo (VIE, 2376).
Round 3:
WGM Thi Kim Phung Vo (VIE, 2376) beat WIM Elena Tomilova (RUS, 2334).
IM Anna Zozulia (BEL, 2314) drew with WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB, 2379).
Rakshitta Ravi (IND, 2067) lost to WFM Divya Deshmukh (IND, 2138).
WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ, 2323) beat WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (IND, 2297).
IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL, ELO 2410) drew with WIM Vantika Agarwal (IND, 2279).
WIM Srija Seshadri (IND, 2207) lost to WIM Monnisha G.K. (IND, 2295).
Standings After Round 3: 1. WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ, 2323) – 3 pts, 2. WGM Thi Kim Phung Vo (VIE, 2376) – 2.5 pts, 3. IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL, ELO 2410) – 2.5 pts, 4. IM Anna Zozulia (BEL, 2314) – 2 pts, 5. WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB, 2379) – 1.5 pts, 6. WIM Vantika Agarwal (IND, 2279) – 1.5 pts, 7. WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (IND, 2297) – 1.5 pts, 8. WIM Elena Tomilova (RUS, 2334) – 1 pts, 9. WIM Monnisha G.K. (IND, 2295) – 1 pts, 10. WFM Divya Deshmukh (IND, 2138) – 1 pts, 11. WIM Srija Seshadri (IND, 2207) – 0.5 pts, 12. Rakshitta Ravi (IND, 2067) – 0 pts.