Tan Zhongyi Overcomes Harika 

By Arvind Aaron

China’s Tan Zhongyi beat Dronavalli Harika 5-4 in an exciting Armageddon battle of the FIDE World Women Chess Championship semis in Tehran on Feb 25, 2017.

During this match Harika came back from deficit twice to level scores at 1-1 and again at 3-3. Interim, she led 2-1 after rapid chess only to allow the Chinese to equalize.

After two blitz draws the score became tied at 4-4, requiring the match to be decided in one game. Harika lost a queen ending with white.

If Tan Zhongyi wins the final she will become the fifth Chinese to do so. If Anna Muzychuk wins she will become the third Ukrainian to win the world women’s title.

Harika exited in the semis last time and this time also it is sadly the semis. She has to wait for the next cycle now