Harika enters semis of World Women’s Chess Championship

TIL Desk Sports/ Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli came out strongly yet again in the rapid tie-breaker as she outclassed Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia to enter the semi-finals of the FIDE World Women’s Chess Championship for the third time in a row. Harika was back to her best in the rapid games as she won’t he first game displaying some fantastic technique and then drew the second game to set up a semi-final clash against Tan Zhongyi of China.

Harika’s match was the only one which stretched to the tie-break stage after she squandered a full point lead against the Georgian. But the Indian’s penchant for the faster version of the game yet again proved stronger than her fourth opponent in a row. It may be recalled that Harika had won the first match against Bangladeshi Shamima Akter Liza via the tie-breaker before she defeated Dinara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan in the same fashion. She then got past Sopiko Guramishvili of Georgia courtesy of another tie-breaker.

Harika next faces ninth seed Zhongyi and is just one step away from becoming the first Indian ever to make it to the finals of a knockout women’s World Championship. Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) lost to D Harika (IND) 1-1, 0.5-1.5, Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) beat Ni Shiqun (CHN) 1.5-0.5, Ju Wenjun (CHN) lost to Tan Zhongzyi (CHN) 0.5-1.5, Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) drew with Anna Muzycheuk (UKR) 0.5-1.5.