Dronavalli Harika beat former champion and fifth seed Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia to enter the quarterfinals of the women’s World chess championship at Sochi, Russia, on Wednesday. The 12th-seeded Indian won the match 2.5-1.5 after forcing two wins in the tie-breakers.
Harika’s compatriot Koneru Humpy, the top seed, had already booked her quarterfinal berth. In the round of last eight, Humpy squares up with Mariya Muzychuk of Ukraine, while Harika takes on Meri Arabidze of Georgia.
The results (third round): Marie Sebag (Fra) lost to Natalia Pogonina (Rus) 1-3; Meri Arabidze (Geo) bt Viktorija Cmilyte 2.5-1.5; Alexandra Kosteniuk (Rus) lost to Dronavalli Harika 1.5-2.5.
