Harika Forces Tie-Break

By Arvind Aaron
 

World junior girls champion Dronavalli Harika of Guntur, India held higher rated Anna Muzychuk (Slo) to a comfortable 61-move draw with the black pieces to force a rapid chess tie-break in their round two encounter. Their round two match of the World Women's Chess Championship is tied at 1-1 after classical chess games.

In another more important match, Russian veteran Svetlana Matveeva held world champion Xu Yuhua to a draw in an opposite colour bishop ending to pack Xu Yuhua back to China by a 1.5-0.5 margin. Xu missed her chance on move 54 in the queen and opposite colour bishop ending.

In a Sicilian Defence, Rossolimo attack, Muzychuk did not obtain much with white except a pawn shatter on Harika's king side. Harika held the rook ending to a draw with accurate play. Muzychuk's outside passed pawn did not pose any danger for the tall Indian.

Nalchik is south of Moscow and not far from the border with Ukraine. Humpy is the highest seed left in the tournament. She is already in round three after a walkover in round two.

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Home                                                 Published on 03^rd September, 2008