Grandmaster Bhakti Kulkarni Lives Asian Chess Dream in South Korea

12th Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Latest Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

A nice feature article on GM Bhakti Kulkarni from Goa, India. It is the only place in the country that still reflects the cultural influence of the Portuguese. The Portuguese landed in India in the early 16th century and Goa remained Portuguese overseas territory as late as 1961. Goa has a nice chess tradition. Read this feature by Marcus Mergulhao.

PANAJI: Woman Grandmaster Bhakti Kulkarni pinched herself hard and when it pained, she realized all of what she was witnessing was true. The mild-mannered Goan chess star had just realized her dream of winning a medal and as she shared the podium with Chinese duo of former world champion Hou Yifan (2595) and former World junior girls champion Zhao Xue (2565), she seemed like the odd one out.

After all, Bhakti's third place stopped former world woman champion Zhu Chen (2494) from making it an all Chinese podium finish at the Asian Indoor Games at Incheon in South Korea on Wednesday. "It was like a dream come true. It was too wonderful to be true," Bhakti said after her stupendous achievement.Just a day earlier, Bhakti had realized another of her dream when she was drawn to meet former world woman champion Hou Yifan (2595) of China. "I could feel the pressure when I was playing Hou Yifan. But I fought well to keep it level only to lose a pawn in time trouble," said Bhakti. Hou won the game on 48th move and finished as the eventual champion.

Once the championship was over, Bhakti could spend more time with the former world champion and gold medalist. "Hou Yifan knows English well and she was talking freely with me," said Bhakti.

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Mary Ann Gomes Retains Indian National Chess Title

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Mary Ann Gomes has won the Indian national women's chess title for the second time at the event running from Premier title at the event running from October 22 to November 3 and was sponsored by the Jain Group and organised smoothly by the Jalgaon District Chess Association and the Jain Sport Academy.

Mary Ann Gomes who dedicated her first title at Chennai last year to her mother had the best of tie-break after four players tied for first on 7.5 points. She suffered a defeat to Swati Ghate and bounced back very well. She won the last two games to retain her title. After nine rounds she looked like she was out of contention for the title race by the leaders slowed down and Mary Ann caught up.

Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa who became a Woman Grandmaster recently finished second. The champion of 2010 Soumya Swaminathan of Pune was third and Eesha Karavade who had never won was fourth. At least seven players were in lead or joint lead after a sole leader emerged. Leaders: Meenakshi 4/4; Swati Ghate 5.5/7; Nisha Mohota, Bhakti Kulkarni 6/8; Bhakti Kulkarni, Eesha Karavade, Soumya Swaminathan 7/10.

Final placings: 1-4. WGM Mary Ann Gomes, WGM Bhakti Kulkarni, WGM Soumya Swaminathan, IM Eesha Karavade 7.5/11; 5-6. WGM Padmini Rout, WGM Kiran Mohanty 7 each; 7-11. IM Nisha Mohota, WGM S Meenakshi, WIM P Priya, S Harini, WFM Chandika Divyasree 6.5 each; 12-13. Bodda Pratyusha, WFM Swati Mohota 6 each; 14-22. WGM Swati Ghate, Nimmy George, Michelle Catherina, WGM Aarthie Ramaswamy, WIM Ivana Furtado, WFM Rucha Pujari, Cholleti Sahajasri, WFM K Sai Nirupama 5.5 each; 23-25. WGM Kruttika Nadig, WFM J Saranya, Shweta Gole 5 each; 26-28. Amruta Mokal, G Lasya, WFM N Raghavi 4.5 each; 29 WIM Bhagyashree Thipsay 4; 30 R Salini 3; 31 J Rajasurya 2.5

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
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