WWCh 2018 Round 3.2: Harika heads to the tie-breakers with a draw

by Shahid Ahmed - 11/11/2018

Harika made a quick draw in just 29 moves in French Defence Tarrasch variation against former Women's World Champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk. They will play tie-breaker matches to determine who will advance to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Ju Wenjun made a comfortable draw and Mariya Muzychuk ended Mobina Alinasab's dream run to advance to the quarter-finals. 12 players will have to play tie-breaker matches to determine which 8 players will move to the quarter-finals. Harika once again has to fire in the tiebreaks, something that she has been successful in the last two rounds against Khukhashvili and Khotenashvili. But Kosteniuk will not be an easy opponent to overcome. Photo: Official site

Harika needs to cross the tie-breaker hurdle

FIDE Women's World Championship 2018 official logo | Photo: Official site

Harika will play against Kosteniuk in minimum two more games in the tie-breakers | Photo: Official site

In French Defense Tarrasch variation, both sides exchanged pieces at regular interval and made a draw after 29 moves via threefold repetition.

Photo Gallery:

Ju Wenjun was the first person to reach quarter-finals. She defeated her compatriot Zhai Mo (CHN) 1.5-0.5 | Photo: Official site

Mariya Muzychuk is the other quarter-finalist to advance. She ended Mobina Alinasab's dream run by defeating her 1.5-0.5 | Photo: Official site

Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) made a strong comeback after losing round 3.1 against Jolanta Zawadzka (POL). They will have to play tie-breakers to determine who will advance | Photo: Official site

Kateryna Lagno (RUS) and Natalija Pogonina (RUS) drew both of their games. Tie-breakers will decide their fate | Photo: Official site

Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) bounced back after suffering a miniature like defeat against Anna Muzychuk (UKR) in round 3.1. Their tie-breaker matches is going to be nothing short than explosive | Photo: Official site

Anna's last move 19...f5 is a huge mistake. Find out why.

Lei Tingjie (CHN) made a quick draw in 22 moves against Alisa Galliamova (RUS) | Photo: Official site

Valentina Gunina (RUS) had an emphatic win over Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB). After losing round 3.1, Valentina played aggressively out of the opening and gained an early advantage which kept surmounting for the rest of the game | Photo: Official site

Video Gallery:

Watch round 3.2 live stream | Video: Official site

Results of Round 3:

Zhai Mo	(CHN)	½-1½	Ju Wenjun	(CHN)
Zawadzka Jolanta	(POL)	1-1	Abdumalik Zhansaya	(KAZ)
Pogonina Natalija	(RUS)	1-1	Lagno Kateryna	(RUS)
Muzychuk Anna	(UKR)	1-1	Stefanova Antoaneta	(BUL)
Harika Dronavalli	(IND)	1-1	Kosteniuk Alexandra	(RUS)
Galliamova Alisa	(RUS)	1-1	Lei Tingjie	(CHN)
Alinasab Mobina	(IRI)	½-1½	Muzychuk Mariya	(UKR)
Tokhirjonova Gulrukhbegim	(UZB)	1-1	Gunina Valentina	(RUS)