ZAGAN (POLAND), July 26: India's International Master Abhijit Kunte and International Woman Master Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman improved their chances of finishing in the top bracket by scoring facile wins in the 11th round of the World Junior Boys and Girls Chess Championship here today.

Kunte (6.5 points), ranked 31st, broke his string of five successive draws by defeating Stefan Schneider (Sweden). He now shares the 15th place with eight others.

Vijayalakshmi (7) defeated Maria Sergeeva (Kazhakstan) with white pieces and is in joint 6th place.

She faces 17th seed Le Thi Phuong (Vietnam) in the penultimate round, while Kunte meets the strong Russian IM Evgeni Najer, who led in the earlier stage of the tournament, in the 12th and penultimate round.

Leaders in the boys group remained unchanged as Hristos Banikas (Greece), Shaked Tal (US) and B Macieja (Poland) drew their games to share the top spot with eight points each followed by seven others on 7.5.

But the girls' section saw decisive duels in the top boards as new leaders emerged. On the top board, overnight leader IWM Joanna Dworakowska (Poland - 8) lost to WGM Tatiana Vasilevich (Ukraine - 8.5) with black pieces.

Vasilevich now leads the field with WGM Harriet Hunt (England - 8.5), who defeated WGM Elina Danielian (Armenia - 7).

RESULTS

Boys: H Banikas (Greece -- 8) drew with Shaked Tal (US -- 8), B Mceija (Poland -- 8) drew with S Movsesian (Czech Republic -- 7.5), A Morezevic (Russia -- 7.5) drew with I Ivavisevic (Yugoslavia -- 7.5), V Balkan (Ukraine -- 6.5) lost to V Mirumian (Armenia -- 7.5), C Bauer (France -- 7.5) bt G Kacheishvilli (Geo -- 6.5), Abhijit Kunte (India -- 6.5) bt S Schneider (Swe -- 5.5).

Girls: T Vasilevich (Ukraine -- 8.5) bt J Bworakowska (Poland -- 8), H Hunt (Eng -- 8.5) bt E Danielian (Armenia -- 7), Ciuskyte (Latvia -- 8) bt M Bobrowska (Poland -- 7), M Zielinska (Poland -- 7.5) bt M Lomineishvilli (Georgia -- 7), S Vijayalakshmi (India -- 7) bt M Sergeeva (Kazhakstan -- 6).

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