Alapin variation

Petroleum Sports Promotion Board: Defending champion IM Padmini Rout of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) shot into sole lead with 6.5 points at the end of the seventh round of the 50th National Chess Championship for Women being held at Managiri, near Karaikudi town in Tamil Nadu.

On Wednesday, Padmini defeated fellow overnight leader Velpula Sarayu (5.5 points) of Telangana in the seventh round as she maintained her chances of going all the way to the title.

She is being followed in joint second position by four Tamil Nadu players -- PV Nandhidhaa, Rakshitta Ravi, J Saranya and K Priyanka -- all of whom moved to six points by winning their respective games.