D Harika loses first game; faces ouster threat in World C'ship

Grandmaster D Harika lost momentum and went down to Tan Zhongyi of China in the first semi-final game of the world women's chess championship here.

It was a tough day at work for Harika as nothing worked right for the Indian who is making her third straight appearance in the semi-final of a knockout world championship.

Zhongyi gave no chances in this nearly one-sided encounter. Harika will now have to win at all costs to stay in the match. A win in the return game of the two-games mini-match will bring the Indian back in contention while a draw or a loss would mean the end of the road for her in the championship.

The other semifinal match witnessed a huge drama as Russian Alexandra Kosteniuk not only blundered away a won position but went on to lose the game against Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine. Muzychuk, who won with black, must be thanking her stars as she is now just a draw away from reaching the final of the championship.

Harika was outdone in a Nimzo Indian defence game. The opening choice by Zhongyi was not really intimidating and Harika was close to equal after initial phase.