Isle of Man (UK): Grandmaster and former world junior champion Donavalli Harika was adjudged the best woman player after she settled for a draw with Alon Mindlin of Israel in the ninth and final round of Poker Masters Isle of Man Chess tournament that concluded here.
Harika knew that a draw would be enough for the first place and did not exert much in the last game of the tournament. The Indian finished with 5.5 points -- enough to clinch the top prize in the women's category (2000 pounds).
Grandmaster Nigel Short of England won the tournament with an impressive victory over overnight joint leader and compatriot David Howell in the final round.
Short came up with an excellent King side attack leaving Howell's kingside in tatters. The victory was worth 6000 Pounds for Short. Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta could not reverse his fortunes and had to split the point with Jorden Van Foreest of Holland. Gupta ended up in 12th place on 5.5 points.
Harika took the honours in Women's section by going for the sharp Ragozine defense as black against Israel's Alon Mindlin. Mindlin thought he had some chances after he stopped Harika from castling but soon after trading of the queens, it was clear that black's position was impregnable.
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