Indian Women Lose To Russia 1.5-2.5

Indian Women Lose To Russia 1.5-2.5
By Arvind Aaron

Indian women lost to Olympiad champions Russia by 1.5-2.5 after Koneru Humpy suffered a shock defeat to Valentina Gunina on the top board. The World Women’s Team Chess Championship is happening at Chengdu, China.

Dronavalli Harika’s win in board two against former world women’s champion Alexandra Kosteniuk went in vain as Olga Girya beat Soumya Swaminathan in the fourth board.

Humpy was higher rated while all the other three Indians were lower rated than their Russian counterparts. Padmini Rout drew world junior girls’ champion Goryachkina in board three.

Strangely, Indian has lost every single game in the first four rounds on the fourth board.

Among other results, China swept Egypt 4-0, Ukraine beat USA 3-1, Georgia beat Kazakhstan 3-1 and Armenia beat Poland 2.5-1.5.