Harika wins, takes semis to tiebreaker

Indian GM Dronavalli Harika was back in the hunt at the World Women’s Chess Championship winning the second game against Tan Zhongyi of China to take the semifinal into a tie-breaker.

The loss in the first game of the semifinal might have pegged back most of the chess players but Harika proved she is made of sterner stuff. The Indian has been involved in every single tiebreaker of the championship thus far and has won all her matches in tiebreak games only. That said, Zhongyi has shown herself to be well prepared and it will be a contest to watch. The other second game of the semifinal saw Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia bowing out of the $450000 championship after she lost her second straight game against Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine.

KERBER OUSTED

DUBAI: Angelique Kerber lost the chance to return to the top of the WTA rankings, after losing 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) to Elina Svitolina in the Dubai Tennis Championships semifinals.

Had Kerber won the tournament, she would have retaken the world No 1 spot she held after winning the US Open in September, until Serena Williams wrestled it back in claiming Australian Open.