Humpy

Elista (Kalmykia): Grandmaster Koneru Humpy will clash with woman Grandmaster Ekaterina Kovalevskaya of Russia in the semi-finals of the women’s World Chess Championship at the city chess complex here.

The Indian will play with black pieces in the first of the two games in the semi-final.

Humpy defeated Woman GM Xu Yuhua of China to complete a 2-0 sweep in the two-game quarter final, as reported in Monday’s Late City edition.

Kovalevskaya scored 1.5-0.5 win against Ketino Kachiani-G of Germany in the tie-break which was played under rapid game rules to make it to the last four stage.

In the other quarter finals, which were stretched to the tie-break stage, Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria, playing black beat Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia in the rapid game to make it to the semis.

Earlier, Stefanova had succumbed tamely to Dzagnidze under the normal time control and their match was dragged to the tie-break. Former world women’s champion Maia Chiburdanidze, who could not match the attacking skills of Viktorija Cmilyte of Lithuania, fought it out till the blitz game to reach the semis.

Humpy, who needed just a draw in the second game of the quarter final, exhibited some gritty chess in the endgame, when her opponent was only hoping to split points. (PTI)