Harika loses first game; faces ouster from World Chess
TEHRAN: Grandmaster D Harika lost momentum and went down to Tan Zhongyi of China in the first semifinal game of the world women’s chess championship here.
It was a tough day at work for Harika as nothing worked for the Indian who is making her third straight appearance in the semifinal of a knockout world championship. Zhongyi gave no chances in this nearly one-sided encounter.
Harika will now have to win at all costs to stay in the match. A win in the return game of the two-game mini-match will bring the Indian back in contention while a draw or a loss would mean the end of the road for her in the championship.
The other semifinal match witnessed a huge drama as Russian Alexandra Kosteniuk not only blundered away a won position but went on to lose the game against Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine.
Muzychuk, who won with black, must be thanking her stars as she is now just a draw away from reaching the final of the championship.
Harika was outdone in a Nimzo Indian defence game. BENGALURU FC TO
TAKE ON EAST BENGAL BENGALURU: Reigning champions Bengaluru FC are set to take on table-toppers East Bengal in the I-League match at the Shree Kanterava Stadium here on Saturday. Though Bengaluru have defeated East Bengal at home convincingly in the past two seasons, they have tasted a 1-2 defeat in their away game this season.
In another match, Aizawl FC will look to avenge their earlier loss to Chennai City FC.
Aizawl FC had been defeated 0-2 earlier this season by the debutants at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, courtesy the goals netted by Marcos ‘Tank’ Vinicius and Charles de Souza. Now, at home, the north eastern outfit will be attempting to overturn the result.