Top seed Vijayalakshmi increased her lead over her nearest rival Swati Ghate of Maharashtra by 1.5 points after defeating No 2 seed Pallavi Shah. Viji's path was cleared by her sister Meenakshi, who brought down five-time champion Bhagyashree Thipsay of IDBI in the 12th round.

But it was the little Humpy's precious milestone that stood out on an eventful day. Humpy completed a 11-game IWM norm here when she reached seven points after beating Aarthie Ramaswamy of TN. Earlier, in the last two tournaments she played, she had made norms (11-game in Goodricke 99 and 10-game in Commonwealth 99). Thus at 12 years, three months and four days, Humpybecomes the youngest International Woman Master in India and perhaps the youngest in the world too. (The Fide office in Lausanne was closed on Sunday and so the record could not be confirmed. Judit Polgar became International Master at 13-plus but then she did not have to become an IWM at all.)

Vijayalakshmi outwitted Pallavi in 58 moves of Four Knights Opening from the black side to reach 9.5 points. Pallavi has the better of the opening but then she tried to get into an ending in which she had no chances at all. Viji simplified the position to a rook ending and created a passed pawn in the Queen-file after snatching Pallavi's Queen-rook pawn.

Aarthie tried to break through the King-rook file by sacrificing a pawn on the 18th move in the Pirc Defence. Humpy kept the pawn and won another pawn on move 23. By move 30, Aarthie lost a piece as well in a tactical stroke. Four moves later, the game ended.

Meenakshi played one of her best games today while beating Bhagyashree in Dutch Defence in 31 moves.After getting a thematic `e4' break, Meenakshi won an exchange by doubling the rooks in the central file. By move 31, Bhagyashree was also to lose a piece.

Safira Shanaz of TN stayed in contention for a berth in Indian team when she humbled five-time champion Anupama Gokhale of PSCB in Queens Gambit Accepted. Safira gave her rook for two pieces and a pawn on move 21 and finished off the game by promoting her Queen-rook pawn. With this, Safira on 7.5 points has completed a 11-round IWM norm. She has a 11-round norm already and needs one more.

Swati Ghate faced the French Defence and employed the advanced variation to get the better of Dolan Champa Bose in 37 moves by winning a piece in a tactical skirmish in the centre.

RESULTS

12th round: Pallavi Shah (Mah) 5 lost to Vijayalakshmi (IA) 9.5; Meenakshi (TN) 5 bt Bhagyashree Thipsay (IDBI) 7.5; Anupama Gokhale (PSCB) 6.5 lost to Safira Shanaz (TN) 7.5; Aarthie (TN) 5.5 lost to Humpy (AP) 7; Swati Ghate (Mah) 8 bt Dolan Champa Bose (Bih) 2; BinduSaritha (LIC) 2 drew with E Sheena (Kerala) 2. Swati Mohota (Ben) 4.5 bye.