The Indian played tactically and gained a pawn early on. But Mohota faltered when she missed an opportunity to win a piece and had to struggle and force the win -- an opposite bishop colour ending.

After two successive wins, Kidambi's (4.5) run was halted in the seventh round when he drew his game with Vuckovic Bojan of Yugoslavia.

Playing black, Kidambi started with Caro-Kann opening and got comfortable equality in the start. Both the players avoided to take any chances and agreed for a draw in a queen and rook ending.

Grandmaster Alexander Gatkin (7) of Russia maintained his sole lead after the eighth round in the boys section defeatingtop seed Uzbek Ruslan Kasimdzanov (5.5).

Aronian Levan of Armenia, German Alexander Naumann and China's Zhang Pong Xiang are on the joint second place with six points each. Kidambi is following behind in the sixth place.