Women's World Chess Championship 2012: Harika to Play Zhao Xue for Quarter Final Tiebreak Today

MANSIYSK (Russia): Grandmaster D Harika played a sensational game to survived the match against Zhao Xue of China in the Quarter Finals of the Women's World Chess Championship on Wednesday. After drawing the first round, Harika played with white and missed serious tactical chances. However, a late blunder by Zhao in a completely winning position allowed Harika to escape with a draw through perpetual checks.

 

Anna Ushenina of Ukraine made it to the semifinals defeating fancied Nadezhda Kosintseva of Russia in the second game. Ushenina won by 1.5-0.5 and sent back the last remaining Russian in the championship. Harika remains in the championship as the last Indian in the fray since the ouster of top-rated Koneru Humpy in the first round.

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Harika in Quarter-Finals of Women's World Chess Championship 2012 in Khanty Mansiysk

KHANTY MANSIYSK (Russia): Grandmaster D Harika marched her way to the last-eight stage of the World Women's Chess Championship after disposing the challenge of Lela Javakhishvili of Georgia in the second game of the third round.

 

After drawing the first game easily with black, Harika played to her strength and outwitted Javakhishvili. The 1.5-0.5 victory also helped Harika gained some rating points apart from more assured prize money.

After the exit of top three seeds, fourth seed Zhao Xue of China also made it to the quarters following a victory over Mariya Muzychuk of Ukraine.

Like Harika, Xue had also drawn the first game as black and a victory ensured her passage to the next round. Harika and Xue will meet in the next round now.

The championship this year is played on a knockout basis and highest rated Koneru Humpy, defending champion Yifan Hou of China and third seed Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia were ousted in the second round itself.

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French Chess GM Marie Sebag Quits TV Reality Show Secret Story 6 in 48 Hours

Grandmaster and French Women's Chess Champion has left the Secret Story 6 edition within 48 hours of entering it. When leaving the house with her suitcase, in the confessional room, Sebag said, "I want to leave the Secret Story House because I do not feel at home here." Sebag also revealed her secret of being a chess grandmaster and French women's chess champion. She is ranked 12th among women chess players in the world, eighth among women chess players in Europe and first in France among women chess players. 

 

Secret Story is quite like the Indian Bigg Boss. Participants have to enter the house and keep a secret. Every participant has a secret and he has to 'save' his secret while trying to discover others' secret! The participants are cut off from the rest of the world during the show. Possibly GM Sebag thought it was better to be out of the house and play some chess. Being alone without chess can be boring for anyone!

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French Chess Champ in 'Secret Story' French Reality TV Show

This Libran chess grandmaster and former French women's chess champion is entering French television reality show 'Secret Story' that is quite like the Indian 'Big Boss'. The contestants entered the house on May 25.

This is the sixth season of 'Secret Story'. The 'Secret Story' keeps contestants locked in the house for 10 weeks without any outside contact. The house is called 'La Maison des Secrets'. There are cameras all over the house except in the bathrooms. There is one twist unlike 'Big Boss'. Every contestant has a secret and the other participants try to discover that secret. A contestant wins the money of the person whose secret he guesses. Each participant has €10,000. Each Tuesday, two contestants are nominated and put up against the public vote to be evicted on the Friday. The girls and boys nominate the opposite sex, alternating weekly. So, what is Marie Sebag's secret? That she is a French chess champion. She proves how a frail appearance can be so deceptive. Unfortunately, the videos cannot be re-played in India from the television website. Don't worry, the other contestants cannot read this chess news snippet!

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