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India’s Koneru Humpy and Vantika Agrawal advanced in the FIDE Women’s World Chess Cup, showcasing their skills against formidable opponents.
Koneru Humpy inched closer to the next round of the World Chess Cup (Picture credit: AFP)
India’s Koneru Humpy advanced to the next round by winning with black pieces against Uzbekistan’s Afruza Khamdamova, while emerging talent Vantika Agrawal beat former champion Anna Ushenina in the second round of the FIDE Women’s World Chess Cup on Wednesday.
Grandmaster Humpy, experienced in top-level chess for over 10 years, opted for the open Ruy Lopez against Khamdamova. Even when the game reached an equal endgame, the Uzbek player was intimidated by her formidable opponent.
Eventually, Khamdamova blundered a pawn, making it an easy victory for Humpy.
While Humpy showed her class, Vantika demonstrated her tactical skills to overcome Ushenina. The middle game, resulting from a Queen pawn opening, was dynamically balanced.
However, Vantika capitalised on her advanced pawn on the queen side, forcing the matter with a knight sacrifice that Ushenina will remember for a long time.
Among other Indian players, D Harika had to work hard despite being a pawn up before beating compatriot P V Nandhidhaa. Padmini Rout played a commendable draw against former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, who now represents Switzerland after a long tenure with Russia.
R Vaishali, another promising player from India, started positively by beating Ouellet Maili-Jade of Canada and Divya Deshmukh won against Kesaria Mgeladze of Georgia.
K Priyanka, known for her skill, drew with higher-ranked Klaudia Kulon of Poland after winning in the first-round tiebreaker.
The return game will take place on Friday with reversed colours. If scores are tied, the same day will be reserved for the tiebreaker in this knockout event.
The total prize pool is USD 691,250, with USD 50,000 awarded to the winner. Additionally, the top three players will qualify for the women’s candidates tournament in the world championship cycle.
Important and Indian results round 2 game 1: Lei Tingjie (Chn) beat Francisco Guecamburu Candela Be (Arg); Alinasab Mobina (Iri) drew with Zhu Jiner (Chn); Tan Zhongyi (Chn) beat Anastasia Kirtadze (Geo); Afruza Khamdamova (Uzb) lost to Koneru Humpy (Ind); Anna Muzychuk (Ukr) drew with Inna Gaponenko (Ukr); Meruert Kamalidenova (Kaz) beat Aleksandra Goryachkina (Fid); Kateryna Lagno (Fid) drew with Anastasia Avramidou (Gre); Daria Charochkina (Fid) lost to Nana Dzagnidze; Mariya Muzychuk drew with Cervantes Landeiro Thalia (Usa); P V Nandhidhaa (Ind) lost to Dronavalli Harika (Ind); R Vaishali beat Ouellet Maili-Jade (Can); Gulnar Mammadova (Aze) lost to Polina Shuvalova (Fid); Alexandra Kosteniuk (Sui) drew with Padmini Rout (Ind); Divya Deshmukh (Ind) beat Kesaria Mgeladze (Geo); Vantika Agrawal (Ind) beat Anna Ushenina (Ukr); Klaudia Kulon drew with K Priyanka.
(With PTI Inputs)
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