The second games of the Women's World Chess Championship Quarterfinals were played on February 21. Ju Wenjun, Antoneta Stefanova and Ni Shiqun leave the championship.
In the first game Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine), playing White, defeated Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), Harika Dronavalli (India) won as Black against Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), and two other games were drawn – Ni-Kosteniuk, Tan Zhongyi-Ju Wenjun.
Today's games were extremely tense. The underdog of the match Tan Zhongyi, who was close to win previous game, defeated with Black pieces her teamate and the highest rated player of the tournament Ju Wenjun.
Ju Wenjun leaves Tehran but, as the winner of the Women’s Grand Prix Series, she will have another chance to fight for the title in the Women’s World Championship Match against a new Women’s World Champion.
Nana Dzagnidze won on demand against Harika Dronavalli to extend the match to the tie-breaks. In her last interview Harika said she would like to play as many games as possible and so far she keeps on playing without free days as she hasn’t missed any tie-break.
Unlike Harika, Anna Muzychuk remains the only player who has never played any tie-breaks in this championship. Ukrainian player held Antoaneta Stefanova for a draw and won the match.
Alexandra Kosteniuk transferred the game into a better ending and slowly outplayed her opponent Ni Shiqun, a Chinese player, whose result became the most surprising one in this championship.
The tie-break between Nana Dzagnidze and Harika Dronavalli will take place in the Espinas Palace on 22nd of February. |
