A determined Viji, who has now won six games in a row after her first round defeat, is in an advantageous position as she has played only seven games to Swati's eight. But both Viji and Swati have always fought for a win and that was the factor that separated them from the others. After the event, Swati could well rue her costly draw with Anupama Gokhale in the seventh round.

Two upsets marked Round 8, No 2 seed Pallavi Shah of Maharashtra falling to former Asian sub-junior champion Aarthie Ramaswamy of TN and world under-12 girls champion Koneru Humpy of AP going down to S Meenakshi of TN.

Viji's43-move defeat of Swati Mohota of West Bengal had two fatal pawn moves from white: on move 13 on the Kingside and on 26 on the Queenside. Viji capitalised on these two chances to paralyse white's position. The Queen, rook and bishop combined to come up with a mating attack and won a piece. ``After those pawn moves, my pieces were cramped. I was also in time trouble,'' said Swati later.

Swati Ghate won a pawn on the 34th move in Queens Gambit Accepted against Bindu Saritha of Kerala. Unleashing a strong Kingside attack, Swati chased Bindu's pieces and won another pawn and an exchange. By move 41, black's King-pawn was unstoppable.

Five-time champion Bhagyashree Thipsay of IDBI had an easy game in Sicilian Defence against E Sheena of Kerala. A simple mating attack on move 23 netted Bhagyashree a pawn and three moves later she also won a piece. Statistically, the game was over after 54 moves but the second half was a formality.

Aarthie won a pawn on the 33rd move in Sicilian Defence against Pallavi Shahand reached what looked to be a normal rook and pawn ending where the pawn-down player forces a draw with accurate moves. But Pallavi held on to the pawn she had and allowed Aarthie to push her King-rook pawn ahead. The TN girl won in 56 moves.

Meenakshi got the bishop pair quite early in the Nimzo-Indian Defence against Humpy. Giving two pawns between moves 21 and 25, Meenakshi attacked the long-castled King with her Queen and rook. By move 29, Humpy had to give her Queen for rook. The world under-12 champion resigned three moves later.

Anupama Gokhale of PSCB won a piece for two pawn on move 16 in Queens Gambit Accepted against Dolan Champa Bose of Bihar, who lived dangerously by giving another exchange on move 29. But after 48 moves she was a full rook down for two pawns.

8th round results

Swati Mohota (W Ben) 3.5 lost to Vijayalakshmi (IA) 6; Bindu Saritha (Kerala) 1 lost to Swati Ghate (Mah) 6; Bhagyashree Thipsay (IDBI) 5.5 bt Sheena (Kerala) 1; Anupama Gokhale (PSCB) 5 bt Dolan ChampaBose (Bih) 1.5; Pallavi Shah (Mah) 3 lost to Aarthie (TN) 4.5; Meenakshi (TN) 1.5 lost to Humpy (AP) 4. Safira Shanaz (TN) 5.5 bye.