An in second place after draw in Asian tourney

(07-09-2007)

HA NOI — Vietnamese women’s Grand Master (GM) Nguyen Thi Thanh An is among the top players in the Asian Women Individual Chess Championship after drawing with Wenjun Ju of China on Wednesday in Iran.

The HCM City GM, with an Elo rating of 2296, drew against her Chinese rival, who is 49 points above An on the FIDE ratings, to be placed second behind India’s GM Tania Sachdev, who has three points after three wins, 0.5 points above An.

An climbed to the top of the table on Tuesday after checkmating India’s Karavada Eesha Sanjay, who is currently 50 points above An on the Elo rating, to lead the US$10,000 tournament. An clinched her opening win over host rival Tajik Sareh.

Four other players, including Ju, also have 2.5 points each, but remain behind An with lower Elo ratings.

FIDE Master (FM) Le Thanh Tu is among the top 10, but suffered her first loss at the 10-day championship to the leader, Sachdev (2393), on Wednesday. Tu (Elo rating 2318), from Ninh Binh Province, sealed her second victory on Tuesday, beating Iranian International Master (IM) GhaderPour Shayesteh (2190).

IM Le Kieu Thien Kim (2293) claimed her second win and went into the top 10 after defeating Chinese Xiaohui Wang on Wednesday. The twice National First Class Chess Championship winner is ranked ninth, one rank behind Tu also on two points. Kim lost to Ju in the second round on Tuesday.

GM Hoang Thi Bao Tram (2306) joined the two-point group after claiming her second win, triumphing over Chinese Jing Zhang (2262). The 2005 Asian Youth Championship winner was defeated by Sachdev on Tuesday.

FM Pham Bich Ngoc (2103) is in the one-point group with two draws. She drew against Iranian FM Navabi Shirin (2121) on Wednesday after losing to GM Jilin Zhang of China, who is rated 235 points above her.

FM Hoang Thi Nhu Y (2018) is still searching for a win, losing all of her first three matches. The National First Class Chess Championship bronze medallist was beaten by host FM Mona Salman Mahini (2106) on Wednesday and Chinese Zhongyi Tan (2276) the day before.

The region’s top women are competing in a nine-round Swiss System for the winner’s prize of $1,600 as well as three slots in the women’s world championship. — VNS