Team Herald
GUJARAT: WGM Bhakti Kulkarni is tied on second spot with 6 points at the end of round nine in the ongoing Iwasa 44th National Women Premier Chess Championship, in association with All-India Chess Federation, in Gujarat.
Bhakti (2311 ratings) is tied along with Nandhidhaa Pv and Padmini Rout and is behind leader WGM Meenakshi Subharaman, who is leading the table with 6.5 points.
Bhakti started her campaign with a draw against Nandhidhaa PV and then lost against WGM Meenakshi Subbaraman in the second round.
She came back strongly in the round 3 as she defeated Pandey Srishti and later beat WGM Mary Ann Gomes in the 4th round.
In round five, Bhakti drew with WGM Kiran Manisha before beating WIM C Sakshi in 6th round. Bhakti had to settle for a draw in the next 2 rounds against Bala K and WGM Swati Ghate respectively before she beat WGM Soumya Swaminathan in round nine to take her tally to six points.
Bhakti will play her vital match on today against Padmini Rout and later will face Ghosh Samriddhaa in the last round.
