TEAM HERALD

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AAAGXM/8IOBYW24690/s400/Bhakti-Kulkarni-25-%23-2-2.jpg" border="0" width="319" height="400" style="cursor: move; " alt="" />PANJIM: WGM Bhakti Kulkarni drew with IM Eesha Karawde ( 2393) of Maharashtra in the final round to clinch the silver medal with a score of 7.5 points from 11 rounds in Bhavarlal and Kantabai Jain Foundation 39^th Premier National Women Chess Championship at Jalgao, Maharashtra, Saturday.

Bhakti started as the ninth seed in the tournament and finished second with five wins, five draws and a loss.

Bhakti put Goa on the map of Indian chess by becoming the first Goan Chess player to win medal at the National men/women championship. Bhakti tied for first place in the event with Mary Ann Gomes, Saumya Swaminathan and Eesha Karvade but had to be satisfied with silver medal behind Mary Ann Gomes due to lower tie-break.

Mary Ann while speaking to journalists after the function  praised Bhakti. “I was lucky,” said the champion. “The real winner should be Bhakti who proved herself worthy as a WGM."

Bhakti will gain 35 ELO rating points. She will participate in the Commonwealth Chess in Chennai from November 22.

Meanwhile, WIM Ivana Furtado defeated G Lasya of Andhra Pradesh to tally to 5.5 points. She finished 18th.