For the second successive day, Indian girls came up with a timid performance and lost 1-3 to Georgia in the fourth round of the women’s World team chess championship at Ningbo, China, on Saturday.
In the 10-team round robin event, India now shares the sixth spot with three match points. This resounding victory took Georgia to the top of the table where it joined Poland.
Like against China One on Friday, D. Harika and Eesha Karavade managed to draw their games and accounted for India’s tally in the match.
Harika, playing black, drew with former World champion Maia Chiburdanidze in 34 moves, while Esha pulled off a similar result against Nana Dzagnidze in 45 moves on the second board.
Mary Ann Gomes, who moved to the third board after an off-form Tania Sachdev was rested, lost in just 25 moves to Lela Jakhishvili.
National champion Kruttika Nadig, playing her first game in the competition, lost with white pieces to Sopiko Khukhashvili in 40 moves.
Russia beats USA
In two keenly watched matches, top seed China One dismissed Armenia easily, while Russia stopped USA 3-1. Overnight leader Poland dropped its first point after a 2-2 deadlock against formidable Ukraine.
The results (fourth round): Georgia bt India 3-1 (Maia Chiburdanidze drew with D. Harika; Nana Dzagnidze drew with Eesha Karavade; Lela Javakhishvili bt Mary Ann Gomes; Sopiko Khukhashvili bt Kruttika Nadig); China One bt Armenia 3.5-0.5; Poland drew with Ukraine 2-2; USA lost to Russia 1-3; Vietnam lost to China Two 1-3.
Standings (after four rounds): 1-2. Georgia, Poland (7 match points each), 3. China One (6), 4-5. Russia, Ukraine (4 each), 6-8. USA, China Two, India (3 each), 9. Armenia (2), 10. Vietnam (1).
