India's R Vaishali wins gold in Asian Blitz Chess Championship

India's R Vaishali won the women's title with eight points from nine rounds in the Asian Continental Blitz Chess Championship in Chengdu, China, on Sunday.

She won seven games and posted two draws in the nine-round event. Vaishali drew her final round game against Uurtsaikh Uuriintuya of Mongolia to finish half-a-point ahead of Iran's Sarasdat Khademalsharieh and clinch the gold medal.

Her compatriot Padmini Rout finished third with seven points after a last round win over Yuxin Song of China.
The Chennai player with an ELO rating of 2203 had finished third in the Asian Championship event on Friday.

Congratulations to R Vaishali for winning the gold medal at Asian Blitz Championship. We are proud of her accomplishment: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 21, 2017

The Prime Minister was quick to congratulate her for the feat. He tweeted celebrating her win.

The other Indians, however, couldn't make much of an impression with Soumya Swaminathan (5.5 points) taking the 12th spot and Mary Ann Gomes, who finished fourth in the classical format, settled for the 16th spot.

Vaishali is a chess player from Chennai. She has won the Girls' World Youth Chess Championship for Under-14s and Under-12s. Since 2016 she is a Woman International Master (WIM).

Picture Credit: http://en.chessbase.com/