Official website: http://chess2012.ugrasport.com
Anna Ushenina defeated Nadezhda Kosintseva and advanced to the semifinals. Other three matches will continue tomorrow with quicker time controls.
The shortest game of the round and, possibly, the championship was played between Huang Qian and Ju Wenjun (both – China). The players went for a peaceful opening variation and agreed to a draw on 17th move. The Chinese quarterfinal will continue tomorrow on tie-break.
The Russian Nadezhda Kosintseva had Black against Anna Ushenina (Ukraine). Kosintseva equalized in the opening, but made a few inaccuracies later, allowing White to sacrifice a pawn for dangerous initiative. In a wild game Ushenina obtained a significant advantage, which soon turned to a decisive one. Anna Ushenina won the match and became the first player in the semifinal.
Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) won the game on demand and equalized the match score against Marie Sebag (France). Stefanova, playing White, got a promising position after the opening, however, misplayed badly in the middlegame, and her position turned to a precarious. Instead of playing for a win, the French decided to force the perpetual, securing the match victory, but miscalculated and allowed White to regroup her forces. The former World Champion, armed with an extra pawn, regained the initiative and eventually won the game. The match will be continued on tie-break.
The game between Harika Dronavalli (India) and Zhao Xue (China) was very dramatic. The Indian was better after the opening, but then started to make mistakes and lost a pawn. After a long maneuvering game Black won another pawn. By that time White’s position was basically hopeless, but the Indian player began to set up traps, and Zhao Xue fell into one of them, allowing her opponent to draw the game by perpetual. The winner in this match-up will also be determined tomorrow.
The tie-breaks are scheduled tomorrow, November 22.
Quarterfinal results:
Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) – Marie Sebag (France) 1-1
Huang Qian (China) – Ju Wenjun (China) 1-1
Anna Ushenina (Ukraine) – Nadezhda Kosintseva (Russia) 1,5-0,5
Harika Dronavalli (India) – Zhao Xue (China) 1-1
Tie-break pairings:
Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) – Marie Sebag (France)
Huang Qian (China) – Ju Wenjun (China)
Harika Dronavalli (India) – Zhao Xue (China)
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
It’s insane to play in such cold weather.
No wonder Harika looks so please after having escape a hopeless position. God might be smiling on her. She could be the first Indian Women champion as this knock out format luck, forms and preparation play a huge part. Good luck to all girls. Two Asian and two European in the semi. No Russian!