Harika will spearhead India at FIDE World Women's Team Championship 2023
Shahid Ahmed·2 min read
Indian Women's team won a historic Silver medal at the previous edition in 2021 . However, this time they would definitely like to aim for the Gold. GM Harika Dronavalli is the sole member from that team. She will be joined by IM Padmini Rout, IM Vantika Agrawal, WGM Savitha Shri B and newly crowned Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Women Rapid winner - IM Divya Deshmukh. India is in Pool A with Georgia, Ukraine, France, Kazakhstan and Egypt. Pool B has USA, China, Germany, Poland, FIDE Americas and Bulgaria. Top four from each Pool will advance to the Quarterfinals. India will face France in Round 1 and Kazakhstan in Round 2 starting at 3 and 6 p.m. local time, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza
GM Shyam Sundar M drew the number one at the draw of lots for team India. Georgia, India and France are the favorites from Pool A. Between Ukraine and Kazakhstan, either of them can claim the fourth spot. Comparatively, Pool B looks to be much more difficult to predict which four has the highest chances to advance. On paper, it may seem like USA, China, Germany and Poland should advance to the Quarterfinals, one should not discount FIDE Americas and Bulgaria, as they are very much capable of causing upsets. Moreover, it is a Rapid event, so anything can and probably will happen.
FIDE World Women's Team Championship 2023 official logo | Photo: Official site
Team India
GM Harika Dronavalli | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani
IM Padmini Rout | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy
IM Vantika Agrawal | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani
WGM Savitha Shri B | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani
IM Divya Deshmukh | Photo: IA Vivek Sohani
Team lineups:
Pool A: Georgaia, India, Ukraine, France, Kazakhstan and Egypt
IM Oliwia Kiolbasa (POL) would certainly like an encore of her stellar performance at the 44th Chess Olympiad last year
Poland
FIDE Americas
Bulgaria
For more photos from the opening ceremony and draw of lots, please click here.
Schedule
The schedule of FIDE World Women's Team Championship 2023
Time Control
The time control is 45 minutes + 10 seconds increment for the entire game, for tie-breaks - 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment.
Watch FIDE Women's World Team Championship - Pool Stage, Round 1 Live Commentary by GM Alojzije Janković and WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili | Video: FIDE Chess YouTube Channel
