BATUM: Indian Grandmasters D Harika and R Vaishali advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the FIDE World Women’s Chess Cup on Monday, defeating Greece’s Tsolakidou Stavroula and American Carissa Yip respectively in the tie-break rounds.
Harika broke through Stavroula’s defenses in the second set of rapid tie-break games (10 minutes per player), while Vaishali delivered a strong performance to defeat Yip in the first set itself.
With Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh already securing spots in the last 16, India now has four representatives in the pre-quarterfinals — a notable 25% presence in the remaining field.
However, Vantika Agrawal bowed out of the competition after a hard-fought match against Russia’s Kateryna Lagno. Despite showing remarkable resilience, the experienced Lagno proved too strong. Vantika’s impressive victory over former world champion Anna Ushenina earlier in the tournament will remain a highlight of her campaign.
As the event progresses, the competition intensifies. Only three of the last 16 will qualify for the next Women’s Candidates Tournament, which will determine the challenger for reigning world champion Ju Wenjun of China.
Harika played a composed and clinical game, capitalizing on unforced errors by her opponent. Vaishali, considered the favourite in her match against Yip, lived up to expectations with a confident showing.
The upcoming round will be crucial for all four Indian players, as a win would take them one step closer to the semifinals in this prestigious event, which carries a total prize fund of USD 691,250.
Selected Results (After Round of 32):
- Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) lost to Lei Tingjie (CHN) 0-2
- Zhu Jiner (CHN) beat Aleksandra Maltsevskaya (POL) 2-0
- Irina Bulmaga (ROU) lost to Tan Zhongyi (CHN) 0.5-2.5
- Koneru Humpy (IND) beat Klaudia Kulon (POL) 1.5-0.5
- Anna Muzychuk (UKR) vs Song Yuxin (CHN): 1-1, 1-1, 0.5-1.5
- Vantika Agrawal (IND) lost to Kateryna Lagno (FID) 1-1, 1-1, 0.5-1.5
- Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) beat Valentina Gunina (FID) 1-1, 1-1, 2-0
- Bella Khotenashvili (GEO) lost to Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) 0-2
- D Harika (IND) beat Tsolakidou Stavroula (GRE) 1-1, 1-1, 2-0
- Carissa Yip (USA) lost to R Vaishali (IND) 1-1, 1-1, 0.5-1.5
- Polina Shuvalova (FID) lost to Lela Javakhishvili (GEO) 0.5-1.5
- Teodora Injac (SRB) lost to Divya Deshmukh (IND) 0.5-1.5
- Kaliakhmet Elnaz (KAZ) lost to Umida Polonova (UZB) 0.5-1.5
- Meri Arabidze (GEO) lost to Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) 1-1, 0.5-1.5
- Yuliia Osmak (UKR) beat Lu Miaoyi (CHN) 1.5-0.5
- Meruert Kamalidenova (KAZ) beat Anna Shukhman (FID) 1.5-0.5
