JOIN USHarika overcomes Mariya in thriller
Apart from Harika, Koneru Humpy is already in the quarterfinals after defeating Anna Zatonskih of United States in classical games.
Harika was stretched in to the tiebreaker but she fought through to take the match.
The biggest upset of the Championship was caused by Ruan Lufei of China who knocked out defending champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in a tiebreaker. Ruan was in top form in the first rapid game that she won with black and in the return game the Chinese drew to show Alexandra the exit door.
Another Chinese talent Yifan Hao cruised to the next stage defeating former Chinese, Zhu Chen of Qatar in the rapid games. Yifan drew the first game as black and romped home with some original play in the second.
Harika’s match against Mariya was by far the most interesting and keenly contested in the pre-quarterfinals. The Indian had drawn both Classical games to set up the tiebreaker and it was a cliffhanger on all counts.
The Indian started with a victory in the first rapid game that saw her in top form against the Czech Benoni with white pieces. Using her Bishop to desired effect, Harika wove a fine checkmate web to crush Mariya. It was in the second rapid game that Mariya struck back.
Playing white, the Ukrainian won a pawn and displayed her technical acumen to register the much needed victory in 56 moves.