Women's GP: Harika draws with Kashlinskaya, remains in 7th place

Lausanne: Indian Grandmaster Dronavalli Harika drew her ninth-round game against Alina Kashlinskaya of Russia to remain seventh on the points table of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix chess tournament here.

Harika has 4.5 points. The Indian No.2 had to share a point after the Russian International Master, with a lower Elo rating (2485) to hers (2517), managed to hold her own.

The duo signed peace in 31 moves in a French defense game late on Wednesday.

Harika, the world No.9, faces Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk in the 10th and penultimate round later on Thursday.

Georgian Nana Dzagnidze jumped into sole lead with a superb win over world champion Ju Wenjun. She now has seven points and leads her nearest rival Alexandra Goryachkina, who has 5.5 points.

Dzagnidze surprised the Chinese player with an attacking game and prevailed in 82 moves.

In the only other decisive game of the day, former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, who has been struggling in the event, outlasted veteran Swede Pia Cramling in 91 moves.

The 12-player tournament, featuring world champion Wenjun among others, is the third in the series of four Grand Prix from which two players with the highest points tally would qualify for the next candidate’s event.

Results: Round 9: Dronavalli Harika (IND) 4.5 drew with Alina Kashlinskaya (RUS) 5; Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) 4 drew with Anna Muzychuk (UKR) 5; Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) 5 drew with Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) 5; Alexandra Goryachkina (RUS) 5.5 drew with Marie Sebag (FRA) 3; Pia Cramling (SWE) 4 lost to Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) 3; Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) 6 beat Ju Wenjun (CHN) 4.