Top seed and reigning Asian champion Koneru Humpy of Andhra Pradesh, who was held by Dronavalli Harika on Sunday, beat defending champion Aarthie Ramaswamy of Tamil Nadu to remain the sole leader with 12.5 points after the 13th round in the national women's 'A' chess championship in Kozikhode on Monday.
Employing her favourite Pirc defence, Humpy overcame the Tamil Nadu girl in 49 moves to record her 12th win in the competition.
For Arathie, it was her fifth straight defeat in the 17-round tournament that will conclude on Thursday.
Trailing behind the leader with 11 points is former champion, WGM S Vijayalakshmi (TN), who successfully adopted Morphy defence against Pune girl Kruttika Nadig's Ruy Lopez opening to win in 70 moves.
Latest entrant to the WGM club Nisha Mohota (LIC) settled for a draw against Swati Ghate (also of LIC) to collect nine points and remain third on the table.
Third seed Dronavalli Harika (AP), runner-up in the Asian meet held in Kozikhode in August, drew with S Meenakshi (IA), who engaged Slav defence to split points in 48 moves.
Both Harika and Meenakshi, along with Eesha Karvade (MAH), who drew with Delhi's Tania Sachdev, are logged in the fourth spot with eight points apiece.
Results:
13th round: Eesha Karvade (MAH) 8 drew with Tania Sachdev (DEL) 6.5, Sai Meera (IB) 5 beat Y Prathiba (TN) 5.5, Bagyashree Thipsay(IDBI) 4.5 bt C V Rajalakshmi (TN) 1.5, Anupama Gokhale(BP) 5.5 bt Koneru Chandrahawsa (AP) 5.5, D Harika (AP) 8 drew with S Meenakshi (IA) 8, Aarthie Ramaswamy (TN) 6 lost to Koneru Humpy (AP) 12.5, M R Sangeetha (TN) 2.5 drew with Saheli Nath (Ben) 5.5, Nisha Mohota (LIC) 9 drew with Swati Ghate (LIC) 6, Kruttika Nadig (Mah) 6.5 lost to S Vijayalakshmi (TN) 11.
12th Round: Tania Sachdev (DEL) 6 drew with Kruttika Nadig (MAH) 6.5, S Vijayalakshmi (TN) 10 lost to Nisha Mohota (LIC) 8.5, Swati Ghate (LIC) 5.5 beat M R Sangeetha (TN) 2, Saheli Nath (BEN) 5 beat Aarthie Ramaswamy (TN) 6, Koneru Humpy (AP) 11.5 drew with D Harika (AP) 7.5, S Meenakshi (IA) 7.5 beat Anupama Gokhale (BP) 4.5, Koneru Chandrahawsa (AP) 5.5 drew with Bagyashree Thipsay (IDBI) 3.5, C V Rajalakshmi (TN) 1.5 lost to Sai Meera (IB) 4, Y Prathiba (TN) 5.5 drew with Eesha Karvade (MAH) 7.5.
