Vijayalakshmi makes it four in a row

India's first woman Grandmaster Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi entered the record books by winning her fifth National 'A' women's chess title.

Vijalakshmi defeated IWM Bhagyashree Thipsay in the final round to win by a comprehensive margin of 1.5 points at the end of the 13th and final round of the 27th edition in Delhi on Friday.

Though Viji's fifth title, the fourth in a row, had been decided as much as two rounds earlier, the 23-year-old Madras- based Indian Airlines' officer closed the championships with a resounding win.

With this victory, Vijayalakshmi is now level with Bhagyashree of IDBI, IWM Anupama Gokhale of PSCB and Rohini Khadilkar, all of whom have won the nationals five times each.

Viji tallied a total of 10.5 points from 13 rounds, and the victory was a family affair, with her sibling IWM S Meenakshi keeping her second position intact like last year. Meenakshi totaled 9 points with a final round win over Y Pratibha of Tamil Nadu.

IWM Swati Ghate of LIC drew her final round game against IWM Saheli Barua and finished third with 8.5 points while double WGM norm holder Aarthie Ramaswamy was fourth with eight points and Bhagyashree fifth with 7.5 points.

The top four comprise the Indian team for the year 2001-2002.

"Winning a National 'A' is always a proud moment, said a smiling Vijayalakshmi.

"The first time it was a question of proving myself and the second time it was a matter of showing the first was no fluke. The third time, I was coming back after a gap, having missed a National because of examinations, and then it became a matter of record," she said.

The goal for her was not just winning women's National as she was eyeing to participate in the National 'A' Men's championship next year.

Vijayalakshmi said that she was close to qualifying to the country's premier chess event from the National 'B' the past couple of times and it might happen later this month as she plans to play in the National 'B' tournament in Nagpur.

"I have got an IM title in men, so logically I should now try for a GM title in the men's category," she added. She also felt that she is playing a lot, but then as she quipped, "I want to do well at higher levels, so I must play more."

The last round on Friday against Bhagyashree turned out to be another one-sided affair in the Ruy Lopez opening with black pieces. Bhagyashree made one mistake in the early middlegame and was saddled with a weak kingside. Vijayalakmi crashed through her defences in style to post victory in 28 moves.

Results (final round):
B Thipsay (7.5 points) lost to S Vijayalakshmi (10.5); Y Pratibha (5) lost to S Meenakshi (9); Saheli Barua (7) drew Swati Ghate (8.5); M R Sangeetha (4) drew R Aarthie (8); Nisha Mohota (6) bt D C Bose (3.5); Saimeera Ravi (4.5) lost to D Harika (6.5); Pallavi Shah (3.5) drew Anupama Gokhale (6.5).