Grandmaster D Harika started her quarterfinal campaign with an easy draw with fourth seed Zhao Xue of China in the first game of the two-game mini-match that concluded here in the World women’s chess championship.
After drawing with black, Harika holds a little edge going in to the second game in the USD 4,50,000 prize money championship as she will play with white pieces in the return game.
The Indian has succeeded in the championship thus far without losing a single game.
French Marie Sebag drew the first blood in the first game against former champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria and took an early lead. The Bulgarian will now have to score a victory in the next game to stay in the match.
The other two matches of the quarters were drawn.
Results (Quarterfinals): Game One: Marie Sebag (Fra) bt Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul); Ju Wenjun (Chn) drew with Huang Qian (Chn); Nadezhda Kosintseva (Rus) drew with Anna Ushenina (Ukr); Zhao Xue (Chn) drew with D Harika (Ind).
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