There are more upsets in the first rapid playoff game today. Game 2 is underway.
NEW DELHI, December 6, 2010
Humpy, Harika in second round
Rakesh Rao
K. Humpy and D. Harika moved into the second round of the Women’s World chess championship with expected victories at Hatey, Turkey, on Sunday.
Humpy, the highest rated player in the field, dismissed South Africa’s Melissa Greeff with white pieces in the second game of their first round battle. A day earlier, Humpy won with black pieces.
Harika, seeded nine, defeated compatriot Kruttika Nadig in 59 moves in the second game to post a 1.5-0.5 triumph. On Saturday, Kruttika held Harika with black pieces.
In the second round, Humpy plays England’s Jovenka Houska who surprised fellow International Master from Poland, Iweta Rajlick 2-0.
Harika takes on an unexpected rival, Russian Woman Grandmaster Tatiana Shadrina, who upstaged Armenian Grandmaster Elina Danielian 2-0.
Though the two strongest Indian in the fray advanced, it was curtains for S. Meenakshi and former World junior girls champion Soumya Swaminathan.
Former World champion Maia Chiburdanidze stopped Meenakshi 2-0 while Poland’s Monika Sacko overpowered Soumya 1.5-1.5, having won the first game with black pieces on Sunday.
In the biggest surprise of the first round, home challenger Betul Cemre Yalidiz knocked out Swedish veteran Pia Cramling 1.5-0.5.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com
Houska didn’t surprise her opponent.
She won by forfeit when her Polish opponent couldn’t reach the tournament venue. Her flight was canceled & so was her replacement flight.