Chennai: Fresh from her WGM Norm show, Michelle Catherina (7.5) took sole lead, defeating Chandreyee Hajra in the tenth round of the Velammal – AICF Women International Grandmaster Round Robin Chess Tournament 2019 here at Hotel Abu Sarovar Portico. Divya Deshmukh at 7.0 points, stayed behind the leader, despite her defeat at the hands of fellow Indian Aakanksha Hagawane.
Three Norms were achieved in the earlier round viz., International Master Norm by Divya Deshpande and Woman Grandmaster Norms by Divya Deshpande & Michelle Catherina.
In other games, top seed International Master Munguntuul Batkhuyag of Mongolia went down to her team-mate Uuriintuya Uurtsaikh. In the last game to finish, Colombia’s Franco Valencia Angela stunned higher rated Osmak Iulija of Ukraine.
With the prize money of Rs 7,50,000 at stake, the final round scheduled for tomorrow promises to be an exciting affair.
Round 10 results (Indians unless specified):
Osmak Iulija (Ukr) 6.5 lost to Franco Valencia Angela (Col) 3.0
Nakhbayeva Guliskhan (Kaz) 4.5 drew with Varshini V (3.0)
Uuriintuya Uurtsaikh (Mgl) 4.5 bt Munguntuul Batkhuyag (Mgl) 6.0
Babiy Olga (Ukr) 6.0 bt Sapale Saloni (4.0)
Aakanksha Hagawane (6.0) bt Divya Deshmukh (7.0)
Chandreyee Hajra (2.0) lost to Michelle Catherina P (7.5)