Top-seeded International Master Batkhuyag Munguntuul from Mongolia lived up to her billing to claim the top honours in the women grandmaster chess championship at the Acres Club in Mumbai.
The 30-year-old Batkhuyag (ELO 2410), who was in second at the end of the 10th and penultimate round, scored a decisive win against Russian International Master Elena Tomilova (ELO 2334) in the final round.
The Mongolian finished with a winning tally of eight points after overnight leader Kazakhstan’s Grand Master Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (ELO 2323) slipped at the last hurdle, losing to talented Indian International Master Srija Seshadri (ELO 2207). The 26-year-old Guliskhan with 7.5 points in the kitty had to settle for second place.
Srija churned out another fine performance to defeat the higher rated Kazak player. With a cumulative tally of seven points, she finished a creditable third. Vietnam’s Grand Master Thi Kim Phung Vo (ELO 2376), who was held to a draw by Indian International Master Vantika Agrawal (ELO 2279) was placed fourth, also with 7 points.
International Master Aakanksha Hagawane (6.5 points), International Master Vantika Agrawal and Monnisha GK, both with 5.5 points each, finished in fifth, sixth and seventh positions respectively.
Batkhuyag was presented with the winner’s purse of Rs 1.60 lakh, while Guliskhan had to be content with the runner-up prize of Rs 1.30 lakh. India’s Srija earned a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
Final standings
1.Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL, ELO 2410) 8 pts, 2. WGM Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ, 2323) 7.5 pts, 3. WIM Srija Seshadri (IND, 2207) 7 pts, 4. WGM Thi Kim Phung Vo (VIE, 2376) 7 pts, 5. WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (IND, 2297) 6.5 pts, 6. WIM Vantika Agrawal (IND, 2279) 5.5 pts, 7. WIM Monnisha G.K. (IND, 2295) 5.5 pts, 8. WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB, 2379) 5.5 pts, 9. WIM Elena Tomilova (RUS, 2334) 5 pts, 10. IM Anna Zozulia (BEL, 2314) 4.5 pts, 11. WFM Divya Deshmukh (IND, 2138) 3.5 pts, 12. Rakshitta Ravi (IND, 2067) 0.5 pts.