The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Humpy draws with Yildiz

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Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009
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Humpy draws with Yildiz

NEW DELHI: Top seed K. Humpy settled for a long, frustrating 122-move draw with last seed and local Woman International Master Betul Cemre Yildiz in the third round of the Women Grand Prix chess championship in Istanbul on Monday.

The unexpected draw made Humpy share the lead at 2.5 points with three others.

Humpy, rated at 2621 was an overwhelming favourite to crush Yildiz who is rated more than 400 points below at 2214. Playing black, Humpy held the initiative until Yildiz decided to sacrifice her knight for two pawns.

Later, from the 72nd move, Humpy tried to win with her rook and knight against Yildiz’s lone rook. Yildiz displayed precise technique for the next 50 moves to eventually open her account with a draw and deny Humpy a third straight victory.

Second seeded Chinese teenage sensation Hou Yifan overpowered former World champion Antoaneta Stefanova in 78 moves, former World junior champion China’s Zhao Xue handed out Azerbaijan’s Zeinab Mamedjarova her third defeat of the competition and Ecuador’s Martha Fierro Baquero stunned veteran Pia Cramling to join Humpy in the lead.

The results (third round): Betul Cemre Yildiz (Tur, 0.5) drew with K. Humpy (2.5); Hou Yifan (Chn, 2.5) bt Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul, 1.5); Zhao Xue (Chn, 2.5) bt Zeinab Mamedjarova (Aze, 0); Martha Feirro Baquero (Ecu, 2.5) bt Pia Cramling (Swe, 1); Marie Sebag (Fra, 1) drew with Maia Chiburdanidze (Geo, 1.5); Elina Danielian (Arm, 1.5) drew with Shen Yang (Chn, 1).

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