Safira Shanaz of TN, who barged into the team in Calcutta in 1997 and went out last year, made a comeback after scoring eight points, the same as five-time champion Bhagyashree Thipsay of IDBI, who fought a long battle with another five-time champion Anupama Gokhale of PSCB. Safira, who comes in place of an out-of-form Pallavi Shah, in the process also completed a 12-game IWM norm.

Safira took acalculated risk with a nine-move draw with Bindu Saritha of LIC while Bhagyashree held the advantage in the French Defence Advanced variation before repeating positions in a rook and pawn ending after 45 moves. It meant the end of the road for Anupama in the event for the second consecutive year as she could only end up with seven points.

Bhagyashre took the draw soon after she watched Swati strangle 12-year-old Humpy, a candidate who had a chance to get into the team if she scored a last-round win. The top four was finalised with only a tie to be resolved between Safira Shanaz and Bhagyashree for the third place which ultimately went in favour of the former through the Koya system, which takes into account the scores of players in higher score groups.

Little Humpy finished fifth after a tie with Anupama and can still walk with her head high as she had become the youngest IWM in India and Asia. Today she had no chance in English Opening as Swati equalised quickly and put pressure on a central backwardpawn. Once the target was fixed, it was smooth sailing for Swati who combined her Queen, rook and knight to trap white's Queen after 43 moves.

For Vijayalakshmi, it was just work as usual against Aarthie of TN. In English Opening she won a pawn on move 26, another on move 32 and then with connected pawns on Queenside the game too after 37 moves.

Viji valued her previous titles more as she looked back: ``The first (1995) was significant as it gave me the breakthrough; the second too, as I had to prove myself; here I am happy for my 25 Elo points.''

The top 10 with prizes:

1. Vijayalakshmi (Indian Airlines-Rs 13,200) 2.Swati Ghate (Mah-Rs 10, 200) 3.Safira Shanaz (TN-Rs 7,300) 4.Bhagyashree Thipsay (IDBI-Rs 5,400), 5. Koneru Humpy (AP-Rs 4,100) 6. Anupama Gokhale (PSCB-Rs 3,300) 7.Pallavi Shah (Mah-Rs 2,000) 8. Swati Mohota (W Ben-Rs 1,500), 9.Aarthie Ramaswamy (TN) 10. Meenakshi S (TN).

C Rajendran IRS, Commissioner, Income Tax, gave away the prizes.

Last round results: Vijayalakshmi10.5 bt Aarthie 5.5; Humpy 7 lost to Swati Ghate 9; Safira Shanaz 8 drew with Bindu Saritha 2.5; Bhagyashree Thipsay 8 drew with Anupama 7; Swati Mohota 5.5 bt Meenakshi 5; Sheena 2 lost to Pallavi Shah 6. Dolan Champa Bose 2 bye.