Harika Dronavalli from India defeated Nafisa Muminova from Uzbekistan to become the sole leader after two rounds of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Sharjah, UAE.
Harika’s compatriot Humpy Koneru recovered after the unfortunate start and confidently won against Alina L’Ami.
There were two more decisive games as Anna Ushenina and Ju Wenjun outplayed Elina Danielian and Zhu Chen respectively.
Hou Yifan split a point with Zhao Xue and the game between Batchimeg Tuvshintugs and Tatiana Kosintseva also finished in a draw.
Harika Dronavalli – Nafisa Muminova
Five players including Hou Yifan, Zhao Xue, Batchimeg Tuvshintugs, Anna Ushenina and Ju Wenjun are half a point behind the leader.
Round 2 results:
GM Zhao Xue 2508 ½ – ½ GM Hou Yifan 2661
GM Harika Dronavalli 2521 1 – 0 WGM Muminova Nafisa 2315
GM Koneru Humpy 2598 1 – 0 WGM L’ami Alina 2446
GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2494 ½ – ½ WGM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs 2346
GM Ushenina Anna 2487 1 – 0 GM Danielian Elina 2490
GM Zhu Chen 2461 0 – 1 WGM Ju Wenjun 2559
Round 3 pairings:
WGM Ju Wenjun 2559 – GM Zhao Xue 2508
GM Danielian Elina 2490 – GM Zhu Chen 2461
WGM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs 2346 – GM Ushenina Anna 2487
WGM L’ami Alina 2446 – GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2494
WGM Muminova Nafisa 2315 – GM Koneru Humpy 2598
GM Hou Yifan 2661 – GM Harika Dronavalli 2521
Batchimeg Tuvshintugs – Tatiana Kosintseva
FIDE Press Officer Anastasya Karlovich taking photos
Photos by Maria Emelianova, courtesy of the official website
