Top seed, International Woman Master Eesha Karvade of Maharashtra emerged the sole leader with four points after four rounds in the 19th National Junior girls' chess championship in Kozhikode on Thursday.
She is followed by state mate and third seed Kruttika Nadig with 3.5 points.
Playing on the top board, Eesha employed Sicilian defence to beat overnight joint leader and sixth seed Saheli Nath (West Bengal) in 44 moves, while Kruttika engaged King's Indian defence to overpower J Rajasurya (ECA) in 84 moves.
Saba Aziz Mhate (Mah) played well to hold second seed Tania to a draw in 48 moves as also Sneha Ghatpande (Mah), who forced a truce with defending champion and seventh seed N Raghavi (TN).
Another title contender, Mary Ann Gomes (GNCA) suffered her second defeat losing to Ramyakrishna (AP).
Left in the third spot with three points apiece were Saheli, Tania Sachdev, Saba, Lakshmi Praneetha (CCA), Soumya Swaminathan (Mah), Sneha, Raghavi, P Sivasankari (TN), H
Soumya (ACA), Ramyakrishna, Nabeela Farheen (TN), Iswarya Shobana (GSCA) and Supriya Maji (WB).
Important results (4th round):
Saheli Nath (WB) 3 lost to Eesha Karvade (Mah) 4, Tania Sachdev (Del) 3 drew with Saba Aziz Mhate (Mah) 3, J Rajasurya (ECA) 2.5 lost to Kruttika Nadig (Mah) 3.5, L Praneetha (CCA) 3 drew with Soumya Swaminathan (Mah) 3, Sneha Ghatpande (Mah) 3 drew with N Raghavi (TN) 3, P Sivasankari (TN) 3 drew with H Soumya (ACA) 3, Mary Ann Gomes (GNCA) 2 lost to Ramyakrishna (AP) 3, R Gomathi (CCA) 2 lost to Nabeela Farheen (TN) 3, Iswarya Shobana (GSCA) 3 bt V K Sindhu (TN) 2, Jennitha Anto (ACA) 2.5 drew with Nimmi George (Ker) 2.5, Alka Das (Jha) 2.5 drew with P Uthra (KCA) 2.5, Supriya Maji (WB) 3 bt D S Manasapriya (MCA) 2, C P Athira (Ker) 1.5 lost to Amrutha Mokal (Mah) 2.5, Kiran Monisha Mohanty (Ori) 2.5 bt M Rajadarshini (TN) 1.5, C Delphin (MCA) 2 drew with Malar Selvi (TN) 2.
