Kiran Manisha wins national-B title

Hyderabad, May 28 (UNI) Second seed Kiran Manisha Mohanty of Orissa won her maiden National Women-B Chess Championship title, beating Harini of Tamil Nadu today.

In the eleventh and final round played at KVBR Indoor Stadium, Yousufguda here, Kiran M Mohanty opened with Sicilian defence.

In the 22nd move, she won a pawn and kept the lead through the entire game. She finally promoted her pawn to a Queen and won on the 70th move.

With the win her tally of points rose to 10 out of possible 11.

Kiran maintained half a point slender lead over top seed and statemate Padmini Rout.

On the second board, Rout beat WIM P Lakshmi Sahithi of Andhra Pradesh. Rout, right from the beginning, played aggressively in the Sicilian defence. Lakshmi Sahithi failed to handle well and lost quickly in 28 moves.

Rout finished runners up with 9.5 points while P Priya of Tamil Nadu defeated defending champion Sai Meera of BSB, and finished third with eight points.

Seven others, including last year's winner Sai Meera, shared fourth spot with 7.5 points.

Results of tenth round: Kiran Manisha Mohanty, Ori (10) bt S Harini, TN (7.5) Padmini Rout, Ori (9.5) bt Lakshmi Sahiti, AP (7.5) Sai Meera, BSB (7.5) lost to P Priya, TN (8) Sangeetha, TN (7.5) drew with Dave Dhyani, Guj (7.5) Uthara, TN (7.5) drew with Pon N Krithika,TN (7.5) Nimmy AG, Ker (7) drew with Divyasri CH, AP (7) Gagare Shalmali, Mah (7) drew with Ramya Krishna I, AP (7) Rajadarshini, TN (7) drew with Swati Mohota, WB (7) Anuprita Patil, Mah (7) drew with Roy Pallabi, WB (7) Preeti R, TN (7) drew with Pujari Rucha, Mah (7).

UNI