Harika gets first win in Chinese League

After getting a comfortable draw in her opening game against Qi Guo of Team Jiangsu, Harika Dronavalli beat Ni Shiqun of Team Tianjing to put her side in a strong position after two days. P. Harikrishna, also won his game against Zen Chongsheng.

Harika Dronavalli registered an easy win in her second game in the Chinese A Division Chess League.

Indian Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli continued her brilliant run by winning her second game in the Chinese A Division Chess League here today.

Playing for Team Shandong, she beat Ni Shiqun of Team Tianjing to put her side in a strong position after two days.

Harika comfortably drew her opening game against Qi Guo of Team Jiangsu.

“I started today with black and immediately guided the game to a complicated position. My opponent made a few mistakes and I pounced on them to extract a victory in 26 moves. I am very happy with the way I played,” she said, shortly after completing the win.

India’s other Grandmaster in fray in the elite tournament, P. Harikrishna, also won his game against Zen Chongsheng of Team Guangdong. Harikrishna is representing Team Shanghai.

The Chinese Chess League is an annual elite tournament, comprising 12 teams. All of China’s top players and a number of foreign players have assembled in Jiaxing for this event.

The entire league is played from April to December, lasting 22 rounds in six 3-4 day sessions. The current leg will end on July 26. Each match is played over five boards, with women playing on two of them.