Eight players are closely following the leaders with 2.5 points each to their credit -- GM Alexandra Baburin (Ireland), GM Anthony Miles (England), IM Mahmood Lodhi (Pakistan), GM Pravin Thipsay, IM DV Prasad, IWM Bhagyashree Thipsay, Anup Deshmukh and Atanu Lahiri (all India).

In a Sicilan Alapin, Ramesh playing black got the better of Swati Ghate who played some artificial moves in the opening.

With enterprising play Ramesh obtained a passed pawn on the queen file in a queenless middle game and romped home after pocketing two pawns.

Konguvel had a relatively difficult game against World Under-12 champion Koneru Humpy. Facing the Carocoun Defence with white pieces, Konguvel employed the sharp Panev Botvinnik variation and lanched a kingside attack after trading the minor pieces.

ImportantResults

S Vijayalakshmi (2) drew A Das (2); Nassir Wajih (2) drew Sriram Jha (2); D Barua (2) bt P Harikrishna (1); V Koshy (2) bt Tania Sachdev (1); Saheli Barua (2) bt SR Kidambi (1); K Visweswaran (2) bt Arjun Oberoi (1); Roy Phillips (2) bt Ravi Khanna (1); K Murugan (1.5) drew K Gopalakrishna (1.5); Dilip Pagey (1.5) drew NK Mishra (1.5); Valay Parikh (2.5) drew RG Setty (1.5).