Harika wins one and draws two

Indian Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli came up with an inspiring performance to register one win, two draws and one loss on day two of the 2016 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships (Open and Women) here.

Harika, who is playing in the Women World Rapid category of the tournament, started her day against International Master Sarasadat Khademalsharieh of Iran with an ELO rating of 2386.

With both the players going for a win, it was an intense battle. However, with time running out, none of them were willing to take any risk and eventually settled for a draw. In her second game, she drew against ELO rated 2321 Woman Grand Master of Dinara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan.

In her third tie, she was up against fourth seeded Grand Master Stefanova Antoaneta of Bulgaria. With victory on her mind, the Hyderabadi lass started off aggressively and it paid rich dividends as she was able to beat the 2552 ELO rated Bulgarian to register her second win in the tournament.

In her final game, she took on the sixth seeded Woman Grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia with an ELO rating of 2549. The world number 7 took the fight to her opponent and was hoping for an encore but it was not enough and went down fighting to the higher rated Georgian.

Harika is now in 14th position and with four games left, she will look for a better round to finish as high as possible on the championship table.