FIDE Women’s World Cup: Harika, Vaishali reach pre-quarterfinals; Vantika loses in tie-breaks

R. Vaishali and Harika Dronavalli joined compatriots Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh in the pre-quarterfinals of the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, on Monday after winning their third-round clashes in tie-breaks.

However, Vantika Agarwal was knocked out of the competition followed her defeat against Kateryna Lagno.

Vaishali had to dig deep to beat USA’s Carissa Yip. After both of their classical games ended in a draw, the 15+10 rapid tiebreak match also finished with the same result. Vaishali both the 10+10 rapid games to book her spot in the pre-quarterfinals where she will face Meruert Kamalidenova of Kazakhstan. Kamalidenova has knocked out defending champion Aleksandra Goryachkina.

Harika defeated Greek player Stavroula Tsolakidou in the same manner as Vaishali. Harika will face Lagno in the next round.

Vantika had stunned Lagno in the first classical game before the latter bounced back in the second to send the match to tiebreaks. The 15+10 rapid tiebreaks and the first game of 10+10 tiebreaks ended in a draw. But Lagno defeated Vantika with white piece in the second game of 10+10 tiebreaks to secure her spot in the pre-quarterfinals.

Divya, who beat Croatian Teodora Injac, will square up against Chinese GM Zhu Jiner while Humpy, who defeated Poland’s Klaudia Kulon, takes on Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland.