Game 1. Only 8 participants are left in the World Championship. Hou Yifan, playing with black pieces, won against Katerina Lahno. Ukrainian player had a little advantage due to the extra pawn but the bishops of the opponent were very strong. Instead of making accurate draw, Katerina Lahno was probably trying to play for more and lost the game.

Humpy Koneru received a position with an advantage and managed to win a pawn. Her opponent Ju Wenjun created some counter play on the king’s side and provoked a mistake from the Indian player. Achieved a comfortable equalization, Ju Wenjun blundered both pawn and game as her position immediately collapsed. Two games, Zhao - Skripchenko and Harika - Ruan, were drawn. In the first game French player Almira Skripchenko grabbed a pawn in a middle game but it was not enough to make a full point. Harika Dronavalli got a position with two bishops in the endgame but, due to accurate play of her opponent Ruan Lufei, didn’t manage to win a game.


French player Almira Skripchenko before the game


Harika Dronavalli tried to get maximum from her position


Humpy Koneru didn’t leave chances for her opponent to survive after the last mistake of Ju Wenjun


Katerina Lahno and Hou Yifan at the beginning of the game


Chinese player Ju Wenjun before the game


Zhao Xue drew with white against Almira Skripchenko


The mother of Hou Yifan checks photos in her camera while father of Humpy Koneru kibitzes the games

Game 2. After the second game 3 participants of semi-final matches were determined. Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru will meet at the board in semi-final as it happened in Nalchik in 2008. Both of them confidently drew their games today and thus won their matches against Katerina Lahno and Ju Wenjun accordingly. Almira Skripchenko was eliminated today by Zhao Xue. The French player simply blundered a piece in a good position. She was playing for 11 days without any pause and won three previous matches on tie-breaks. Her opponent Chinese Zhao Xue will meet with the winner of the match Harika – Ruan which will be determined on tie-breaks tomorrow. The classic part of Indian-Chinese encounter ended with two draws. Both participants proved to be good rapid players and it`s not easy to give prognoses.


The last players from Europe Alimra Skripchenko and Katerina Lahno leave the playing venue


A handshake between Katerina Lahno and Hou Yifan before the second game


Almira Skripchenko adjusts the pieces before the second game


Humpy Koneru drew the second game and won the match against Ju Wenjun


Harika Dronavalli concentrated before the game


Sweet “doping” from a coach


Chinese Ju Wenjun before her last game in the championship


Journalist Asli Kara and Maria Bolshakova in the playing hall