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WIM K Priyanka upset higher-ranked Zsoka Gaal in the FIDE World Women’s Chess Cup, advancing to the round of 64. Nine Indian women are competing, with four in the second round.
(Photo Credits: AFP)
Woman International Master K Priyanka caused a major upset in the first-round tiebreaker, breaching the defences of higher-ranked Zsoka Gaal from Hungary in the blitz games of the first round of the FIDE World Women’s Chess Cup.
The journey ahead will be more challenging for Priyanka, but she has demonstrated that the achievements of her male counterparts, who are excelling against top players, are motivating the young female players in the country.
After losing the first game under Classical time control, Priyanka fought back valiantly to defeat Gaal and force a tie-breaker. In the rapid tiebreak games, Priyanka lost one and won one, leading to a couple of blitz games where she was unstoppable, securing two consecutive victories to advance to the round of 64 in this knockout event, featuring elite participants from the second round onwards.
Nine Indian women are competing, with four of them—Koneru Humpy, D Harika, R Vaishali, and Divya Deshmukh—receiving direct entry into the second round.
Among the remaining five, only Kiran Manisha Mohanty will return home, while Vantika Agrawal, Padmini Rout, P V Nandhidhaa, and Priyanka have all reached the last-64 stage.
Fourth-ranked Koneru Humpy will face Afruza Khamdamova of Uzbekistan in the second round and is expected to secure a last-32 spot in this knockout event.
In an all-Indian contest, Harika will take on Nandhidhaa as the strong favourite. Priyanka, after her impressive victory, will compete against Kulon Claudia of Poland, who appeared somewhat uncertain in her first-round win. Padmini Rout will face a formidable opponent in former women’s world champion Aleksandra Kosteniuk, now representing Switzerland.
The real battle in the World Cup begins now as the stakes get higher. The top-three finishers will earn a place in the Candidates, and from India’s perspective, Humpy remains a strong favourite to secure one of these slots.
The total prize pool for the event is USD 691,250, with USD 50,000 awarded to the winner. Those exiting after the second round will receive USD 5,000.
With PTI Inputs
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Batumi, Georgia
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