Women World C’ship: Harika, Padmini draw with black pieces

D. Harika and Padmini Rout drew their first games of Women World chess championship quarterfinals after facing mixed fortunes on Friday.

D. Harika and Padmini Rout drew their first games of Women World chess championship quarterfinals after facing mixed fortunes here on Friday. Harika, playing with black pieces against Georgia’s Sopiko Guramishvili, enjoyed better of the exchanges but eventually settled for a 49-move draw.

At one stage, Harika could have won a pawn but had different ideas. However, thereafter, she could not gain the upper hand. Padmini, pitted against higher-rated Chinese Tan Zhongyi, was a shade fortunate with black pieces to hold her position. Tan did not find the precise continuation on the 41st turn and drew in 60 moves.

Both Indians will get to play with white pieces on Saturday.