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Nisha Mohota scores

International Women's Master Nisha Mohota of India played a tactical game against Estonia's Budylina Sofia (1 point) to score her first victory and pick two points in the girls' section of the World Juniors and Girls' Chess Championship.

Playing an advanced variation of Carro-Kann defence, Sofia could not manage well after the opening and fell into a trap laid by Nisha before losing a piece. For Nisha, the 28-move encounter was more of a cakewalk.

However, for Indian boy Sundararajan Kidambi (1 point), yesterday's match was not that easy. Playing with black pieces, he earned half a point through a draw against Slovanian Guide Matiz (1).

Kidambi, playing with black pieces, chose open variation of Ruy Lopez opening and changed the order of the moves to confuse his opponent. But the ploy rather backfired, and Kidambi found himself in a minus position, struggling in the later part of the game.

In the end, he had a bishop and four pawns against a knight and four pawns of Matiz. For the Slovanian, it looked like an easy win for a while, but Kidambi laid a trap and sacrificed a pawn. Matiz, instead of capturing the pawn with knight, captured with his king. The mistake forced the Slovanian to end the game with a draw.

Kidambi now has one point out of three.

Grandmaster Asrian Kaven of Armenia is the only player with three points in the boys' section. In the third round, he played very good ending against Chibukhchian Arbir (2), also of Armenia, and won the game.

Top seed Kasandzamov Rustom (2) of Uzbekistan had an early draw with Arutiunian Dant (2.5) of Greece.

In the girls' group, Kouvatsam Maria (3) is the sole leader. She easily won her third round match against Czech Jackova Jaria (2). On the top board, T Sopio (2.5) and K Sopio (2.5) -- both of Georgia -- played a quick draw.

UNI