Top seed Koneru Humpy of Andhra Pradesh notched another victory to remain the sole leader with 13.5 points after 14 rounds in the National women's `A' chess championship in Kozikhode on Monday.
Notwithstanding her 12th round draw against state mate Dronavalli Harika, Humpy, yet to lose a round in the tournament, has established a clear 1.5 point-lead over second seed WGM S Vijayalakshmi of Tamil Nadu.
Even as the tournament is drawing to a close, with only three rounds left, Humpy and Vijayalakshmi appear title contenders, the former all set to add another feather to her cap.
Humpy, who beat defending champion Aarthie Ramaswamy of Tamil Nadu earlier on, easily took on the Nimzo-Indian defence of M R Sangeetha (TN) to win in 49 moves.
Vijayalakshmi, whose splendid performance had hitherto been overshadowed by Humpy's remarkable run, overcame the Queen's gambit of Tania Sachdev of Delhi to win in only 25 moves.
Earlier, in a Morphy defence, Vijayalakshmi beat Kruttika Nadig in 70 moves.
Nisha Mohota (LIC), the latest entrant to the WGM club, was held to a draw in an incredible show by little-known Saheli Nath of Bengal in 17 moves. Mohota split the point in her earlier round against Swati Ghate, who deployed Slav defence.
Mohota continued to be in the third spot with 9.5 points and is closely followed by Harika, who outplayed the Queen-pawn opening of Koneru Chandrahawsa of Andhra Pradesh in 66 moves, to swell he points tally to nine.