Bhagyashree on a roll, Swati leads

LUCKNOW: Things seemed to be going against Subbaraman sisters, Vijayalakshmi and Meenakshi, in the women's National A chess championship here.At the Picup Bhawan Hall on Tuesday, the younger one Meenakshi dropped another point, losing to Bhagyashree in a long-drawn, tough game in the fourth round.Last year too the experienced Bhagyashree, the reigning National B champion, had beaten the national junior champion Meenakshi.On Monday, the elder sister and top-seeded Vijayalakshmi created a flutter when she challenged the arbiter's decison of declaring her fourth-round game against Dronavalli Harika a draw.Viji argued in an excited tone and after failing to convince the arbiter, she lodged an appeal with the protest committee. But she had to ultimately share the point when the panel upheld arbiter AN Venkateshan's decison.On the remaining five boards on Tuesday, double WGM norm holder R Aarthie defeated Anupama Gokhale, Swati Ghate put it across Saheli Dhar Barua, Saimeera Ravi comfortably beat National B runner-up Tania Sachdev, Safira Shanaz posted her first victory of the championship against Dolon Champa Bose and Eesha Karavade and Dronavalli Harika split the point after 29 moves.After the fourth round, Ghate leads with 3.5 points. Bhagyashree, with three wins in a row, has three points with Vijayalakshmi and Aarthie at 2.5 points each.Results (fourth round): Eesha Karavade (Maha) 2 drew with Dronavalli Harika (AP) 1.5; Safira Shanaz (TN) 1.5 bt Dolan Champa Bose (Jharkhand) 0.5; S Meenakshi (IA) 1.5 lost to Bhagyashree Thipsay (IDBI) 3; Swati Ghate (LIC) 3.5 bt Saheli Dhar Barua (Rlys) 2; Tania Sachdev (Del) 0.5 lost to Saimeera Ravi (Indian Bank) 2; Anupama Gokhale (BPCL) 1 lost to R Aarthie (Wipro) 2.5; S Vijaylakshmi (IA) 2.5 — byeStandings: 1. Swati Ghate (3.5 pts); 2. Bhagyashree Thipsay (3); 3-4. S Vijayalakshmi, R Aarthie (both 2.5 each); 5-7. Saimeera Ravi, Saheli D Barua, Eesha Karavade (2 points each); 8-10. Harika, Meenakshi, Safira Shanaz (all 1.5 each); 11. Anupama Gokhale (1), 12-13. Tania Sachdev, Dolan Champa Bose (both 0.5 each).