AGENICES, MYSORE: Goa’s Woman Grandmaster Bhakti Kulkarni (2255) inched closer to the title following her impressive win over top contender Woman FIDE Master Lakshmi C of Tamil Nadu in the round nine of the 44th National Women Challengers Chess Championship, held at Mysore Sports Club, Mysore, Karnataka, on Thursday.
Bhakti now moved on to 7.5 points and now shares joint lead with WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB). Meanwhile Lakshmi dropped to third spot with 6.5 points behind Gomes Mary Ann who climbed to the third spot.
The top seed Soumya played her way past Woman International Master (WIM) Nandhini PV in the ninth round to continue her sparkling run in the tournament. The tournament is organised by Mysore Chess Centre under the aegis of UKCA and All India Chess Federation.
