KOZHIKODE, March 28: Unseeded TS Subhashini of Tamil Nadu leapfrogged to the top position with a magnificent victory over Y Pratibha in the seventh and penultimate round of the 14th National Sub-junior Girls Chess Championship, here, today.

World under-10 champion Koneru Humpy of Andhra Pradesh and Ananya Sarkar of Goodricke National Chess Academy, Calcutta posted crucial victories to share the second spot with 5.5 points. Humpy would need a win in the final round tomorrow to clinch the title, while a draw would do for Subhashini to corner glory.

The young Subhashini, who has been pretty quick to spot a winning chance in the last couple of rounds, capitalised on a poor exchange of bishop for the knight by Pratibha who played the Keres attack. With Subhashini’s Queen and rook turning formidable, Pratibha’s pieces suffered square weakness. After the Queen exchange, Pratibha lost a pawn.

Subhashini did not hesitate to exchange the pieces as she was a piece up. Subhashini’s double rook advantage coupledwith the advanced positions of d’ and e’ pawns forced Pratibha to resign after 51 moves.

Results 7th round: Y Pratibha TN 5 lost to T S Subhashini TN 6, Koneru Humpy AP 5.5 bt C Delphin TN 4.5, Ananya Sarkar GNCA, Cal 5.5 bt C V Rajalakshmi TN 4.5, J E Kavitha TN 4 lost to Aswini Kulkarni Mah 5, Baisakhi Das WB 4 lost to P Sumathi TN 5, Manjula James TN 5 bt Monalisa Malakar Mah 3.5, M Priyadarshini TN 4.5 bt Ra Mahima TN 3.5, Amrutha Mokal Mah 3.5 lost to Madhuri Patil Mah 4.5, Eesha Karvade Mah 3.5 lost to S Gayathri TN 4.5, V T Sindhujah TN 3 lost to Manasi Dadarkar Mah 4, Nazia Nona Ker 3 lost to Sradha Samani Mah 4, B Vijaya Deepthi AP 3 lost to K Charanya TN 4, P Malarselvi TN 2.5 lost to Tania Sachdev Del 3.5, Chitra Sridhar Kar 3.5 bt N Sandhya Ker 2.5, Pannaga Magal Mah 3 bt P Priya TN 2.5, N Vinuthna AP 2.5 drew M Kasturi TN 2.5, Rucha Karvade Mah 2.5 drew Krishna Manjusha Gopalam AP 2.5, Sanitha Satyan Ker 3 bt Nadia NonaKer 1.5, T Aravinda Lochanai AP 2 drew Lakshmi Damodar Ker 1.5, Gayatri Balu Ker 0 lost Saheli Nath WB 2