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WWCh 2018 Round 3.1: Harika draws with Kosteniuk

by Shahid Ahmed - 10/11/2018

Harika drew with former Women's World Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia after a grueling battle of almost 5 hours in round 3.1 of FIDE Women's World Championship. The Indian GM started with Catalan opening which Kosteniuk equalized easily out of the opening. Until this game the head-to-head statistics was 3 draws and 3 wins a piece for each player. They are going to face each other in round 3.2. The player who wins that game will advance to the quarter finals. Ju Wenjun, Jolanta Zawadzka, Anna Muzychuk and Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova were victorious in round 3.1. In this report, we bring you the best games, photos and videos from Khanty-Mansiysk. Photo: Official site

Harika draws with Chess Queen Kosteniuk

FIDE Women's World Championship official logo | Photo: Official site

Tale of the tape:

Harika - Kosteniuk head-to-head results | Photo: FIDE Women's World Championship fb page

Kosteniuk managed to equalize with Black pieces out of the opening in the Catalan. She rapidly expanded on the kingside by pushing her pawns but before she could launch a full fledged attack, knights got exchanged and the potential attack diminished.

Kosteniuk started expanding here with 12...f5

Find out how Harika continued here with white

Kosteniuk made her first mistake in the game when she played 39...gxh4

Anna always keeps a watchful eye on her sister, Mariya Muzychuk. Photo: Official site

Anna Muzychuk (UKR) made quick work of her opponent former Women's World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) in Petroff's Defence when the latter went haywire after the opening concluded. Anna finished off Stefanova in just 26 moves.

Find out how did Anna drove the final nail coffin in this position

18-year old Mobina Alinasab (IRI) continues her terrific form | Photo: Official site

Former Women's World Champion, Mariya Muzychuk was on the brink of a loss as Mobina Alinasab continues to surprise her relatively stronger opponents. Mobina had a winning Queen ending when in the end she rushed for victory but fell into a perpetual check and the game ended up in a draw.

This was a critical moment for white. To take or not to take?

Mobina's only blunder cost her the half point. Can you find why 49.h7 is a mistake and how white can win this?

Mariya definitely breathed a sigh of relief when her opponent played 49.h7 and the game ended up in a draw.

Former multi-time Russian champion and Gold medal winner at Olympiad Valentina Gunina blundered here 34...Rxg3. Find out why.

Photo Gallery:

Defending champion Ju Wenjun wonders who will her next round opponent be | Photo: Official site

Humpy slayer Jolanta Zawadska is on a roll | Photo: Official site

Tokhirjonova just needs a draw against Gunina to advance to the quarter finals of the tournament | Photo: Official site

Anna would like to continue her momentum into the quarter finals | Photo: Official site

Video Gallery:

Round 3.1 games live stream | Video: Official site

Results of round 3.1

 Zhai Mo(CHN)0-1 Ju Wenjun(CHN)
 Zawadzka Jolanta(POL)1-0 Abdumalik Zhansaya(KAZ)
 Pogonina Natalija(RUS)½-½ Lagno Kateryna(RUS)
 Muzychuk Anna(UKR)1-0 Stefanova Antoaneta(BUL)
 Harika Dronavalli(IND)½-½ Kosteniuk Alexandra(RUS)
 Galliamova Alisa(RUS)½-½ Lei Tingjie(CHN)
 Alinasab Mobina(IRI)½-½ Muzychuk Mariya(UKR)
 Tokhirjonova Gulrukhbegim(UZB)1-0 Gunina Valentina(RUS)

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