National chess c'ship for blind: Gangolli leads after round 12

Mumbai, Feb 10 (PTI) Defending champion Kishan Gangolli is leading after 12 rounds in the 13th edition of the AICFB's National 'A' Chess Championships.

At end of the twelfth round today, Gangolli of Karnataka is leading with 10 points, followed by Ashvin Makwana of Gujarat with 9 points and Soundarya Kumar Pradhan with 8 points, a media release said.

On the first board, Gangolli played queen's pawn, opening with white pieces against Yudhajeet De of West Bengal.

Kishan played Queen's Gambit variation, but Yudhjeet declined the gambit. Kishan built a solid position on the queenside. Yudhjeet, on defending the position, lost two pawns, it said.

Kishan, four times national champion and current Asian champion, finished the game without much difficulty.

On 32nd move Yudhajeet surrendered. Now Kishan Gangolli needs half point to clinch the title, the release added.

On the fourth board, Soundarya Kumar Pradhan of Odisha played queen's pawn opening with white pieces against Swapnil Shah of Mahrashtra.

Soundarya played Queen's Gambit variation. Swapnil declined the gambit while developing the pieces he lost a pawn.

Young and talented Soundarya, young and talented, played very nicely and not giving any chance to Swapnil to come back and finished the game on the 57th move.

On the seventh board, Makwana played queen's pawn opening with white pieces against Prachurya Kumar Pradhan of Odisha.

Ashvin played the unusual opening to confuse the opponent. The game was equal in the beginning. Prachurya developed his all pieces while exchanging the pieces he overlooked a move and lost a piece. Makwana won the game easily on the 26th move, the release said