Chess World Cup: Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal share lead after 3rd-round opener, close in on pre-quarterfinals
Indian chess stars Vantika Agrawal and Divya Deshmukh advanced toward the pre-quarterfinals in the FIDE World Women's Chess Cup. They won their first games against Kateryna Lagno of Russia and Teodora Injac of Serbia, respectively.
The USD 691250 knockout tournament has reached its final 32 participants. Vantika demonstrated her growing capabilities by defeating the higher-ranked Lagno.
Divya Deshmukh, playing with black pieces, met expectations by winning against Teodora Injac. She now stands as a strong contender among the five remaining Indian players.
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Top-rated Indian player Koneru Humpy drew her match with Kulon Klaudia of Poland while playing with white pieces.
Harika Dronavalli also drew with Tsolakidou Stavroula, and R Vaishali shared points with Carissa Yip from the United States.
Lei Tingjei of China, the tournament's top seed, won against Bulgaria's Antoaneta Stefanova. Stefanova now faces the challenge of defeating the highest-rated player to force a tiebreaker.
Chinese player Zhu Jiner defeated Aleksandra Maltsveskaya of Poland, advancing closer to securing a spot in the last 16.
Vantika's performance against one of the favoured Russian players became the day's highlight. The Russian participants are competing under the FIDE flag.
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The game began with a Grunfeld opening and developed into a symmetrical pawn structure during the middle game. While Lagno struggled with strategy, Vantika excelled in creating complications.
Lagno's mistake on her 20th move gave Vantika an extra piece advantage.
Vantika maintained her lead throughout the game. She now needs only a draw in her next game as black to advance to the next round.
Divya secured her victory against Teodora Injac in an endgame that emerged from a queen pawn opening. The Serbian player's calculation errors allowed Divya to capitalise on the opportunities.
Complete results round 3 game 1:
Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul) lost to Lei Tingjie (Chn); Zhu Jiner (Chn) beat Aleksandra Maltsveskaya (Pol); Irina Bulmaga (Rou) drew with Tan Zhongyi (Chn); Koneru Humpy (Ind) drew with Kulon Klaudia (Pol); Anna Muzychuk (Ukr) drew with Yixing Song (Chn); Vantika Agrawal beat Kateryna Lagno (Fid); Nana Dzagnidze (Geo) beat Valentina Gunina (Fid); Bella Khotenashvili (Geo) lost to Mariya Muzychuk (Ukr); Dronavalli Harika (Ind) drew with Tsolakidou Stavroula (Gre); Carissa Yip (Usa) drew with R Vaishali (Ind); Polina Shuvalova (Fid) drew with Lela Javakhashvili (Geo); Teodora Injac (Srb) lost to Divya Deshmukh (Ind); Kaliakhmet Elnaz (Kaz) drew Umida Polonova (Uzb); Meri Arabidze (Geo) drew with Alexandra Kosteniuk (Sui); Osmak Yuliia (Ukr) beat Lu Miaoyi (Chn); Kamalidenova Meruert (Kaz) drew with Anna Shukhman.
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