Bhakti Kulkarni retains national chess title

Defending champion Bhakti Kulkarni of Air India completed a dominant performance to finish with 10 points from 11 rounds to retain her title in the 46th National Women Chess Championship which concluded here Saturday.

She was held to a draw in the final round by Pratyusha Bodda of Andhra Pradesh, a Woman International Master.

The Andhra player had her chances early in the game but she let the advantage slip away. Bhakti also failed to convert the chances that came her way and signed the peace treaty after sixty-two moves.

The WGM took home Rs four lakh as prize money for winning the title.

With eight and half points in the kitty, Vantika Agrawal of Delhi finished first runner-up after splitting the point with Mrudul Dehankar of Mahrashtra in the final round.

Talented young Divya Deshmukh of Maharashtra, the third seed, caught up with Vantika on points after beating P V Nandhidhaa of Tamil Nadu but had to be content with second runner-up position on tie-break ...