FIDE WSCC: Humpy and Harika rush towards Quarter-Finals

by Shahid Ahmed - 09/07/2020

Both Humpy and Harika made a fantastic start at the third leg of FIDE chess.com Women's Speed Chess Championship. While reigning Women's World Rapid champion Humpy defeated WGM Vaishali 7-3, Harika outplayed her opponent WGM Tatev Abrahamyan by 11.5-2.5. They both will have strong opponents in the Quarter-Finals in the form of former Women's World Champions Alexandra Kosteniuk and Hou Yifan respectively. Quarter-Final games will start today from 6 p.m. IST. What do you think the result will be today? This was the last event in the GP for Vaishali as each player gets to play three out of four legs. Photo: Niklesh Jain

Humpy and Harika dominated

Humpy and Harika advanced to Quarter-Finals after beating their Round of 16 opponents WGM Vaishali R and WGM Tatev Abrahamyan respectively. Humpy scored 7-3, while Harika scored an emphatic 11.5-2.5. Vaishali registered one victory and four draws, while Tatev scored one victory and three draws against them. Humpy and Harika both of them will face former Women's World Champion Kosteniuk and Hou Yifan respectively in the Quarter-Finals today.

Humpy and Harika made a fantastic start in GP3 | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Humpy swindled Vaishali in Game 1

In the first 5+1 game, despite having an advantage for the majority of the game, Vaishali missed quite a few opportunities and eventually blundered in a completely winning position.

Humpy - Vaishali, Game 1

Position after 41.Kf4

The final mistake of the game was 41.Kf4, with four seconds left on the clock, Vaishali missed the win and played 41...Nb5. Can you find out the mistake?

English Opening gone wrong

Vaishali misplayed in Game 3 and allowed Humpy to create a backward IQP which made the position quite difficult for her to play.

Humpy - Vaishali, Game 3

Position after 11...a5

Find out why 11...a5 is a mistake and what black should have played instead.

Checkmate ends the game

In the first game of 3+1, Vaishali had a seemingly equal position. However, she blundered into a checkmate when she just four seconds left on the clock.

Vaishali - Humpy, Game 4

Position after 33...Qd3

How should white react to 33...Qd3 ?

Back-rank weakness

In the third 3+1 game, Vaishali again missed a checkmate combination with four seconds left on the clock.

Vaishali - Humpy, Game 6

Position after 30...Rc8

Find out how should white after 30...Rc8

Vaishali's sole win

Vaishali's only win against Humpy in Round of 16 came Humpy probably had a mouse slip and lost her queen in the last 3+1 game.

An exciting bullet game

Bullet (1+1) games are always interesting. Evaluation swayed like pendulum throughout the game, but there was an interesting moment.

Humpy - Vaishali, Game 9

Position after 16...Bc5

Find out white's best plan after 16...Bc5

WSCC is over for Vaishali as this was her final leg in the GP

Replay all Humpy-Vaishali games in Round of 16

Harika's brilliant start

Harika made a dominating start with 5-0, then she drew her next game and lost the following which was the loss she suffered. Again she chained five consecutive victories, making the score a massive 10.5-1.5 before making draws in the last two games to advance to the Quarter-Finals.

A Roller-Coaster ride

Game 2 between Harika and Abrahamyan was a topsy-turvy affair.

Abrahamyan - Harika, Game 2

Position after 16...Nxc5

Find out an interesting continuation for white after 16...Nxc5

Position after 21...Qe5

White had another opportunity to make things interesting after 21...Qe5

Position after 39...Rxc3

What is white's last attempt left for victory after 39...Rxc3 ?

Opposite Color Bishop ending

The common notion is that most of the opposite color bishop ending ends up in a draw. While that might be true, there are certain scenarios where you have to play precisely to make a draw.

Harika - Abrahamyan, Game 5

Position after 47.h4

Find out how black can salvage a draw after 47.h4

A lone victory

Abrahamyan scored her only win against Harika in Game 7.

Tatev Abrahamyan will be back in GP4 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay all Harika-Abrahamyan games in Round of 16

Round of 16 Results

Humpy and Harika advance to Quarter-Finals | Source: chess.com

GP3 brackets

Round of 16 results | Source: chess.com

Prizes

GP Points and Prizes | Source: chess.com

GP Players

Women's Speed Chess Championship has nine seeded players, among them reigning Women's World Rapid Champion GM Koneru Humpy is there | Source: chess.com

Each leg is a 16-player knockout event and will last five days (including one rest day after the semi-finals). The dates are June 24-28th, July 1-5th, July 8-12th and July 15-19th, with games starting at 14:30 CET (6 p.m. IST)

GP Standings

Each player will play three out of the four legs in the Grand Prix | Source: chess.com

Replay the livestream

Live commentary by GM Robert Hess and WGM Qiyu Zhou | Video: FIDE

Links

FIDE

chess.com

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