Nisha Mohota

Calcutta/ Panaji: Nisha Mohota of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, a former National Women Premier Champion, won the 41st National Women Challengers Chess Championship 2014 at Pedem Sports Complex in Mapusa. This was Nisha’s first senior national title since 2005.

Overnight joint leaders, International Master Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi of Air India and Nisha won their games against Neha Singh of Bihar and Praneetha Lakshmi of Andhra Pradesh, respectively.

The winner had to be decided via a tie-break as both players were on 9.5 points after 11 rounds. Nisha had the better tie-break score and thus emerged winner. Hinduja Reddy of Andhra Pradesh scored 8.5 points to bag the bronze medal.

“I have never been so consistent… I was very calm throughout the tournament and I never panicked. I was in the zone, you can say,” Nisha said from Mapusa.

Nisha revealed she was completely cut off from the rest of the world to prepare for the Challengers.

“I didn’t even read newspapers while preparing for the tournament. I am enjoying my chess like never before. I think being cut off from the world helped me. I just thought about chess and nothing else,” Nisha, who gained 23 points, said.

A product of The Telegraph Schools’ Chess Championships, Nisha now has 2271 Elo points. “Bad days are over for me. From here on, I can only climb up,” Nisha said.

So what’s next? “The National Premier Chess championship scheduled for October. I want to win that again. Last time I won was in 2005. It’s been a long time…” she said.

Last year’s National Premier players — Bhakti Kulkarni and Ivana Furtado won their respective games against Swati Ghate of LIC and Smarki Mohanty of Orisa — to qualify for Women National Premier Chess Championship.