FIDE Women's Grand Prix: Dronavalli Harika held to draw by Abdumalik in round 7

Indian Grandmaster Dronavalli Harika was held to a draw by Zhansaya Abdumalik of Kazakhstan in the seventh round of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix chess tournament in Lausanne, Switzerland. She remained on four points, half a point behind two Russians.

The India No. 2 could not overcome the challenge posed by her lower-rated opponent Abdumalik in 30 moves in a game late yesterday. She faces Bulgarian Antoneta Stefanova in the eighth round later today.

Russia's Alexandra Goryachkina and her compatriot Alena Kashlinskaya remained in joint lead after seven rounds, following draws against former world champion Mariya Muzychuk of



Ukraine and Stefanova respectively.

World champion Ju Wenjun's search for her first win in the tournament continued as she settled for her sixth draw against Frenchwoman Marie Sebag, at 2443, the lowest-rated player in the field. She had lost to Harika in the third round.

The Chinese world No. 3 had three points and was lying in 9th place.

The tournament featuring 12 players, including world champion Wenjun, is the third in the series of four Grand Prix from which two with the highest points tally would qualify for the next candidates event.