Women’s World Chess Championship: Harika Dronavalli edges out Nana Dzagnidze to enter semis

Tehran: Indian grandmaster Harika Dronavalli came out strongly yet again in the rapid tie-breaker and put it across Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia to enter the semi-finals of the World Women Chess Championship for the third time in a row. [caption id=“attachment_3298730” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Harika Dronavalli. Image courtesy: Twitter/ @HarikaDronavali[/caption] Harika was back to her best in the rapid games as she won the 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 was the only match that 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 in tie-break, then defeated Dinara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan in the tie-break before getting past Sopiko Guramishvili of Georgia also in the tie-break. With Dzagnidze out of the way, Harika now has to tackle ninth seed Tan Zhongyi of China before she can become the first Indian ever to make it to the finals of a knockout Women’s World Championship. Results (quarter-final): Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) lost to Harika Dronavalli (India) 1-1, 0.5-1.5; Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) beat Ni Shiqun (China) 1.5-0.5; Ju Wenjun (China) lost to Tan Zhongzyi (China) 0.5-1.5; Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) drew with Anna Muzycheuk (Ukraine) 0.5-1.5.