World Women’s Team 2021 R3-4: India advances to the Quarterfinals with a round to spare
India has advanced to the Quarterfinals at FIDE World Women's Team Championship 2021. They defeated Armenia 2.5-1.5 in the third round and lost to CFR Team (Russia) 3-1 in the fourth round. Harika played solid and drew both of her games, Tania and Bhakti scored important victories to ensure India's victory against Armenia, Vaishali lost both of her games, Mary drew her only game. Both Vaishali and Mary had good chances against Kosteniuk and Shuvalova respectively. India may have lost the Pool stage match against Russia, but a potential rematch in the knockout stage will definitely be an interesting one. Round 5 starts today at 3 p.m. CET (6:30 p.m. IST). Photo: Niki Riga/FIDE
Tania and Bhakti help India beat Armenia
IMs Tania Sachdev and Bhakti Kulkarni scored important victories for the team to beat Armenia in the third round of FIDE World Women's Team Championship 2021.
Round 3: India - Armenia: 2.5-1.5
Harika drew, Vaishali lost, Tania and Bhakti won their respective games in the third round against Armenia. Tania scored a nice victory against WGM Anna Sargsyan.
Tania - Anna Sargsyan
White improved her position after 16...Nxf3 17.gxf3 Qe7 18.f4 and eventually launched an attack on the kingside.
IM Bhakti Kulkarni's bishop pair proved to be deadly against WIM Susanna Gaboyan's knights in the endgame.
Round 4: CFR Team (Russia) - India: 3-1
Harika and Mary drew their respective games GM Aleksandra Goryachkina and IM Polina Shuvalova. Vaishali and Tania lost their games against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk and GM Kateryna Lagno. Harika had a hard-fought draw against Goryachkina.
Vaishali had Kosteniuk on the ropes in the middlegame.
Vaishali - Kosteniuk
The position looks absolutely pleasant for White. 26.Ne2 followed by Ng3, Rd4 would have been fantastic. White slowly loosened the grip and eventually blundered a knight probably under time scramble to lose the game.
Mary had a clear advantage against IM Polina Shuvalova.
One of the best chance White had in the game was after 24...Nfe4. Try to find the best continuation for White here.
Replay Round 3 and 4 games of India
Schedule
Pool Stage: Monday 27th September
Round 1 - 3:00 p.m. CET (6:30 p.m. IST)
Round 2 - 6:00 p.m. CET (9:30 p.m. IST)
Tuesday 28th September
Round 3 - 3:00 p.m. CET (6:30 p.m. IST)
Round 4 - 6:00 p.m. CET (9:30 p.m. IST)
Wednesday 29th September
Round 5 - 3:00 p.m. CET (6:30 p.m. IST)
Quarterfinals: Thursday 30th September
Match 1 - 3:00 p.m. CET (6:30 p.m. IST)
Match 2 - 6:00 p.m. CET (9:30 p.m. IST)
Tie-breaks - 8:30 p.m. CET (Friday 12:00 a.m. IST)
Semifinals: Friday 1st October
Match 1 - 3:00 p.m. CET (6:30 p.m. IST)
Match 2 - 6:00 p.m. CET (9:30 p.m. IST)
Tie-breaks - 8:30 p.m. CET (Friday 12:00 a.m. IST)
Finals Saturday 2nd October
Match 1 - 3:00 p.m. CET (6:30 p.m. IST)
Match 2 - 6:00 p.m. CET (9:30 p.m. IST)
Tie-breaks - 8:30 p.m. CET (Friday 12:00 a.m. IST)
Time Control
The time control is 45 minutes + 10 seconds increment for the entire game, for tie-breaks - 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment.
