Date:31/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/31/stories/2008083156212000.htm

Sport - Chess

Humpy, Harika advance

NEW DELHI: Firm favourite K. Humpy needed just 19 moves to brush aside lowly-rated Egyptian rival Yorsa Alaa El Din for a comprehensive 2-0 victory in the first round of the women’s World chess championship at Nalchik, Russia, on Saturday.

Humpy, the highest rated player in the 64-player draw but seeded behind defending champion Xu Yuhua, had won the first game on Friday in 35 moves.

World junior girls champion D. Harika, seeded 22, won the opening game of the first round against Russia’s Vera Nebolsina in 34 moves and claimed the second in 49 moves for a 2-0 triumph.

Tania, Nisha ousted

Asian champion Tania Sachdev’s campaign ended in the first round when China’s Tan Zongyi won the second game with black pieces in 42 moves for a 1.5-0.5 victory. Nisha Mohota joined Tania on the sidelines after losing to Russia’s Nadezhda Konsintseva in both the games.

Significantly, the first round was marked by the non-participation of Georgian players due to the unrest in Ossetia. Former champion Maia Chiburdanidze (seeded 14th), Lela Javakhishvili (21st), Maia Lomineshvili (31st), Nino Khurtsidze (32nd) and Sopio Gvetadze (41st) didn’t participate. Other absentees were France’s Marie Sebag (6th), USA’s Irina Krush (19th), Russia’s Ekaterina Korbut (24th), the Netherlands’ Tea Bosboom Lanchava (40th) and Peru’s Karen Zapata (61st).

The results (involving Indians): Round one: Game two: K. Humpy (2) bt Yorsa Alaa El Din (Egy, 0); D. Harika (2) bt Vera Nebolsina (Rus, 0); Nisha Mohota (0) lost to Nadezhda Kosintseva (Rus, 2); Tania Sachdev (0.5) lost to Tan Zongyi (Chn, 1.5).

Game one: Yorsa lost to Humpy; Vera lost to Harika; Nadezhda bt Nisha; Tan Zongyi drew with Tania.