11/8/2007 – This event sees the cream of Indian women's chess battling it out in Puna. Top seed Dronavalli Harika, rated 2480, is the overall number 15 player in the country, Nisha Mohota, 2416, and Tania Sachdev, 2413 follow close behind. The three top players will represent India at the next Olympiad. Pictorial report.
This event is being held from November 4th to 15th 2007. The event is organised by Symbiosis Spa Chess School at Symbiosis Center for Health Care Campus in Pune, India, with technical assistance being provided by Buddhibal Kreeda Trust.
The tournament, which includes the cream of Indian women's chess among its participants, offers a record prize money of Rs.250,000 (Euro 4,350 or US $6,400). The top three players from this tournament will be selected to represent India at the World Chess Olympiad to be held at Dresden, Germany in 2008, while the top six players will comprise the Indian women's team for various other international events.
The inaguration function was held under the title theme "Fountain of Innovation"
The seeded players had an easy outing in the first round, the only minor upset being provided by local girl Anuprita Patil who held WGM Mary Ann Gomes to a draw with the white pieces. IM Dronavalli Harika looked in some trouble as she lost a pawn in the middlegame, but her opponent P. Priya made a series of errors, Harika won an exchange and finished it off the game without any further hiccups.
In the second round two leaders with full score emerged: Dronavalli Harika of Andhra Pradesh and Eesha Karavade of Maharashtra. WGM Tania Sachdev of Indian Airlines played the black side of Sicilian Paulsen opening against Nimmy George. White tried to create attacking threats on the kingside but Tania did well to neutralize those and even won a couple of pawns. But Nimmy had some compensation and in mutual time trouble Tania failed to produce accurate moves and had be content with a draw by giving perpetual checks.
After three rounds there are five players in the lead with 2.5 points: Harika, Sachdev, Manisha Kiran, Eesha Karavade and R. Aarthie. The games are being shown live on the official tournament web site.