Date:09/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/09/stories/2008090961211900.htm

Sport - Chess

Humpy enters semifinals

NEW DELHI: For the second straight day, K. Humpy crushed China’s Shen Yang to complete a 2-0 victory on way to the semifinals of the Women’s World chess championship at Nalchik, Russia, on Monday.

Humpy, playing black, destroyed the defence of Shen Yang in 42 moves of Semi Slav Defence.

For a place in the final, second seed Humpy faces Chinese prodigy and third seed Hou Yifan who defeated Armenia’s Lilit Mkrchian in the second game for a 1.5-0.5 triumph.

From the top half of the draw, Russia’s Aleksandra Kosteniuk beat Ukraine’s Anna Ushenina to complete a 1.5-0.5 victory.

She will play veteran Swede Pia Cramling who knocked out former champion Bulgaria’s Antoaneta Stefanova.

At Bilbao, in Spain, Viswanathan Anand (four points) will take on Vassily Ivanchuk (4) in the sixth round of Grand Slam Finals when the action resumes after a day of rest.

Leader Veselin Topalov (9) will take on Teimour Radjabov (4) while second placed Magnus Carlsen (8) faces Levon Aronian (6).

The results (quarterfinals, game 2):

Shen Yang (Chn, 0) lost to K. Humpy (2).; Hou Yifan (Chn, 1.5) bt Lilit Mkrchian (Arm, 0.5).

Anna Ushenina (Ukr, 0.5) lost to Aleksandra Kosteniuk (Rus, 1.5).

Pia Cramling (Swe,1.5) drew with Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul, 0.5).