Date:02/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/02/stories/2008090260971900.htm

Sport - Chess

Harika holds Ann Muzychuk

NEW DELHI: D. Harika drew with 11th seed Slovenia’s Ann Muzychuk in 30 moves in the first game of the second round of the women’s World chess championship at Nalchik, Russia, on Monday. The sedate battle saw Harika, playing white, reaching a comfortable, equal ending involving a bishop and five pawns each after the opening moves followed the Dutch system.

On Tuesday, Harika will play with black pieces in the second game.

Second seed K. Humpy and ninth seeded Russian Alexandra Kosteniuk gained walkovers into the pre-quarterfinals.

Humpy was due to face the winner of the first-round match between Georgians Maya Lomineishvili and Sopiko Khukhashvili, while Kostenuik was scheduled to face the winner of the clash between Georgia’s Sopio Gvetadze and Russia’s Ekaterina Korbut.

Since the Georgians and Ekaterina were among the no-shows, Humpy and Kosteniuk advanced to the round of 16.

At Bilbao, World champion V. Anand heads a six-player field in the Chess Grand Slam Final beginning on Tuesday.