Harika wins bronze in World Chess Championship

Sochi, April 6: Indian Grandmaster Dronavalli Harika won the bronze medal along with Swedish Grandmaster Pia Cramling by virtue of making it to the semifinals of World Women’s chess championship here.

Harika lost to the eventual winner Mariya Muzychuk of Ukraine in the semifinals.

Muzychuk bagged the title after defeating Russian Natalija Pogonina 2.5-1.5 in the four-game final. She had earlier defeated top seeded Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in the quarters.

While both Humpy and Harika got excellent chances to beat Muzychuk, the Ukrainian prevailed over them, thanks to some steely nerves.

Against Humpy, she was looking at a hopelessly lost position in the decid- ing tiebreaker when the Indian played an inexplicable blunder and lost.

Harika lost to Muzychuk when she was not able to win a simple position with two extra pawns again in the tiebreak games and then lost the return game without much ado. This was the second time in succession that Harika made it till the semifinals in the knockout championship.

While the last-four finish guarantees Harika a place in the Women’s Grand-prix for the next World championship cycle, Humpy has already qualified to the Grand prix thanks to her high world ranking.

Muzychuk, who won the gold ahead of many fancied rivals, including Humpy, played out a marathon event lasting six mini-matches and spread over almost three weeks.

Pogonina,

who

had many ups and downs in the championship finally ran out of steam in the final, losing the second game and drawing the remaining three to win the silver medal.

Winner Muzychuk won $60, 000, while Pogonina bagged $30, 000. Harika, who decided to stay back here to receive her medal, got $20, 000.

“I started this tournament as 12th seed so, on paper, it’s a nice result. At the same time definitely I am a bit disappointed that I couldn’t win gold. But overall, I think it is fine. I played my best chess and gave my best in tough situations,” Harika said.

— PTI

I started this tournament as 12th seed so, on paper, it’s a nice result. At the same time definitely I am a bit disappointed that I couldn’t win gold. But overall, I think it is fine. I played my best chess. — DRONAVALLI

HARIKA after winning bronze

at the World chess championship

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