Mumbai: Top-seed and Grand Master K Sasikiran of Tamil Nadu crushed International Master and unseeded G B Prakash of Tamil Nadu to retain the National "A" chess title with still a round to spare (19th round) on the penultimate day of the 40th National "A" championship on Thursday.

In the 28th women's National "A" event Women's International Master (WIM) and third- seed R Aarthie of Tamil Nadu crushed her state mate and unseed J E Kavita in the 12th round to top the points tally with 8.5 points to her credit.

WIM Nisha Mohota, who drew her match against her sister Swati, (both from Bengal) shares the second spot with S Vijayalakshmi of Tamil Nadu (on eight points each) while another WIM and unseed D Harika of Andhra Pradesh, who held top-seed and Women Grand Master S Vijayalakshmi of to a well deserved draw is in the third position with 7.5 points to her credit.

Second-seed and GM P Harikrishna of Andhra Pradesh is in the second spot, with 13 points to his credit, after he held International Master Lanka Ravi (8.5 points) to a draw.

GM and third-seed Abhijit Kunte of Maharashtra, who drew his match against R Saptarshi of Bengal (9.5), is in the third position with 11.5 points to his credit.

PTI