Priya held Padmini

Hyderabad, May 25 (UNI) Padmini Rout slipped from her slender lead as three more joined her at the top with six points at the end of 7th round in the 34th National Women-B Chess Championship here today.

Playing on the top board with white Rout faced stiff opposition from her opponent P.Priya of Tamil Nadu forcing her to settle for a draw.

While defending champion Meera Sai defeated her statemate Savetha to join the leaders. Divyasri of Andhra Pradesh surprised everyone as she playing with blacks defeated Ramya Krishna to take her tally to six points. Kiran Manisha Mohanty held her nerves, playing Black to crush Nimmy of Kerala.

Results (7th round): Padmini Rout, ORI (6) drew with Priya,TN (5.5), Nimmy, Ker (5) lost to Kiran Manisha Mohanty. ORI (6), Savetha, TN (5) lost to Meera Sai, BSB (6), Ramya Krishna, AP (4.5) lost to Divyasri, AP (6), Lakshmi Sahiti, AP (4.5) lost to Preethi, TN (5.5), Mili Ghosh, WB (5) drew with Swati Mohota, WB (5), Anuprita Patil, MAH (5) drew with Kanuri Tejaswi, AP(5), Sangeetha, TN (4.5) drew with N.Krithika, TN (5), Rajadharshini, TN 5) bt Jayashree P K, TN (4), Uthra P, TN (4.5) drew with Dave Dhyani, GUJ (4.5).

UNI