Women World Chess C'ship: Harika, Padmini in last-16

Fourth seed D. Harika and National champion Padmini Rout sailed into the pre-quarterfinals of the Women World chess championship by coming out stronger in the two-game tie-breakers on Thursday.

Harika will now take on Georgia’s Sopiko Guramishvili in the pre-quarterfinals.

Fourth seed D. Harika and National champion Padmini Rout sailed into the pre-quarterfinals of the Women World chess championship by coming out stronger in the two-game tie-breakers here on Thursday.

Continuing her impressive run, Padmini upstaged eighth seeded Chinese Zhao Xue 1.5-0.5 after winning the first of the two 25-minute rapid games. After winning with black pieces in 65 moves, she drew the next in 76 moves having reached a winning position in the end.

Earlier, Harika overcame Kazakhstan’s Dinara Saduakassova in 57 moves and returned to gain a much-needed draw with black pieces in 49 moves. Harika, a two-time semifinalist, will now take on Georgia’s Sopiko Guramishvili, rated 2370, while Padmini gears up for China’s Tan Zhongyi, rated 2502.