PANJIM: Woman Grandmaster Bhakti Kulkarni won the best woman prize at the Dubai International Open Chess Tournament, held in Dubai, on Thursday.
The reigning Asian Woman Champion from Margao scored 5.5 points out of possible 9 rounds in the star studded field from 42 countries from all continents.
In the last round, the Goa Carbon Limited brand ambassador –Bhakti –ou twitted Deng Tianle of China to claim the best women prize. Woman International Master Mila Zarkovich stood second behind Bhakti.
Arjuna Awardee Tania Sachdev, current National Woman Champion Padmini Rout and three times former National Woman Champion Mary Ann Gomes, WGM Mona Khaled (Egypt), WGM Nino Maisuradze (France), WGM Inga Charkhalashvili (Georgia) finished out of prize list in the strong field.
Bhakti started the year with a bang by her second sterling performance after her gold at the National Team Championship for Air India at Bhopal in February.
Grandmaster Harika of India had claimed the best woman prize in Sharjah International Tournament last month and Bhakti kept Indian flag flying high in Dubai.
The office bearers of the Goa Chess Association congratulated Bhakti for winning this prestigious prize.
