Vaishali, Harika enter pre-quarters of FIDE Women’s World Cup

In Chess, India’s R. Vaishali and Harika Dronavalli advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, after winning their third-round matches in tie-breaks. They join fellow Indians Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh in the next round.

Vaishali overcame USA’s Carissa Yip in the 10+10 rapid tie-breaks after all previous games ended in draws. She will now face Meruert Kamalidenova of Kazakhstan, who knocked out defending champion Aleksandra Goryachkina.

Harika also progressed through



tie-breaks, beating Greece’s Stavroula Tsolakidou. She will next play Kateryna Lagno of Russia.

Vantika Agarwal was eliminated by Lagno after a closely fought match. Vantika had won the first classical game but lost the second. Lagno sealed the win in the final 10+10 tie-break game.

Divya Deshmukh beat Croatia’s Teodora Injac and will now face China’s Zhu Jiner. Koneru Humpy defeated Poland’s Klaudia Kulon and will take on Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland in the next round.