Bihar’s Rudra, Mumbai’s Liyaa a draw away from title | Nagpur News

Mumbai’s Ns Liyaa Krishnan (right) in action during the U-7 national chess championship on Friday

Nagpur: Bihar’s Rudra Pratap and Ns Liyaa Krishnan from Mumbai took sole lead with full eight points in their respective open and girls’ group of the U-7 National Chess Championship at the GH Raisoni Institute of Engineering and Technology Hall, Shraddha Park, Wadi-Hingna Link Road, on Friday.The unbeaten run of Rudra and Liyaa at the end of the eighth and penultimate round brought them closer to emerge national champion. With a full one-point lead, both Rudra and Liyaa are now a draw away from winning the open and girls’ title.In the open section, Rudra is followed by Aksh Shrivastava, Nimalan Dharanipathy and Joshua Katarapu with seven points each. In the girls’ group, Liyaa is followed by Aaditri Majumdar and Punjab’s unrated Myra Rathore at seven points each.In the eighth round, both Rudra and Liyaa defended well with their respective black pieces to get the better of Vivaan Kadam and Navya R to take sole lead.RESULTS (Round 8)OPEN: Vivaan Kadam (6.5) lost to Rudra Pratap (8), Akshath Chowhan (6.5) drew with Vislavath Lavik Ram (6.5), Katuru Viyaan Krishna (6.5) drew with Shivansh Basu (6.5), Aksh Shrivastava (7) bt Ayansh Ved (6), Nimalan Dharanipathy (7) bt Ivaan Dubey (6), Joshua Katarapu (7) bt Kridhay A (6);GIRLS: Navya R (6) lost to Ns Liyaa Krishnan (8), Aaditri Majumdar (7) bt Shaik Shazwa (6), Dia Harshali Baisnab (6) lost to Myra Rathore (7), Luckshaya RN (6) drew with Aaradhya Rajaneesh (6.5), Rihanshi Munagala (6.5) bt Krithvika Sivakumar (5.5).