Ekaterinburg (Russia): International Master S. Vijayalakshmi went down to Svetlana Matveeva of Russia in the second game of the third round and crashed out of the World Women’s Chess Championship.

With Vijayalakshmi’s ouster, Indian challenge in the championship ended on Thursday. Earlier in the second round, GM Koneru Humpy had bowed out of the event while S Meenakshi fell in opening round.

Russian Alexandra Kosteniuk was beaten by Viktorija Cmilyte of Lithuania in the second game of the third round. Kosteniuk joins defending champion Antoaneta Stefanova, Humpy, and Pia Cramling of Sweden among players to be ousted in the second round. (PTI)