 "Vantika Agrawal was part of the Indian contingent that completed a golden sweep at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest last year. PTI")
India’s Vantika Agrawal stunned former women’s world champion Anna Ushenina of Ukraine in Game 1 of Round 2 at the FIDE Women’s World Cup. Grandmasters Koneru Humpy and R Vaishali and International Master Divya Deshmukh also won their respective games in what was largely a positive day for the Indians competing at the prestigious tournament in Batumi, Georgia.
Vantika, an IM with a rating of 2377, defeated Ushenina while playing with white pieces, forcing her opponent to resign in 36 moves. ““It’s an amazing feeling (beating a former women’s world champion),” Vantika, who was part of the Indian contingent that completed a historic golden sweep at last year’s Chess Olympiad, said after her win.
Reigning world rapid champion Humpy defeated Uzbekistan’s Woman International Master Afruza Khamdamova while Vaishali and Divya defeated Canadian Woman Grand Master Maili-Jade Ouellet and Georgian Woman FIDE Master Kesaria Mgeladze respectively.
Harika held to a stalemate in an all-Indian encounter
The second round also witnessed Indian WGM Padmini Rout held former women’s world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland to a draw. WIM Priyanka K held Poland’s Klaudia Kulon to a stalemate, which was also the result in the all-Indian clash between GM Harika Dronavalli and WGM Nandhidhaa PV.
None of the eight Indians competing lost in Game 1 of Round 2. However, while Vantika, Humpy, Vaishali and Divya will simply need a draw to advance to Round 3, Harika, Nandhidhaa, Priyanka and Padmini will need a victory.
The ongoing World Cup is a crucial tournament for all the players involved as it offers three spots at next year’s Candidates Tournament, where the challenger to reigning world champion Ju Wenjun will be decided.
Divya, Harika, Vaishali and Humpy had received byes in the opening round of the World Cup while the others had to fight their way to the second round, with Vaishali beating Turkmenistan’s Lala Shohradova in the opening round.
Kiran Mohanty was the only Indian losing in Round 1, suffering a knockout punch at the hands of China’s Song Yuxin.