Cramling, Hou Yifan, Koneru, Kosteniuk through

Pia Cramling, Hou Yifan, Humpy Koneru and Aleksandra Kosteniuk all needed just two games to beat their opponents and qualify for the semis at the Women World Championship in Nalchik, Russia.

Photos ?Ǭ© FIDE

Top seeded Humpy Koneru from India, the world's number two behind Judit Polgar who never plays in women-only events, also won her second game against Shen Yang from China. Koneru actually has played only six games yet, and no tiebreak thus far: in the first round she beat Yorsa Alaa El Din from Egypt 2-0 and then in the second she qualified automatically because both Lomineishvili and Khukhashvili had canceled their participation. In the third round Koneru knocked out Hoang Thanh Trang (Hungary) 1.5-0.5 and so now Shen Yang 2-0.

Pia Cramling, the other player who won her first quarter final game yesterday, came under pressure against Stefanova and even lost a pawn, but after Stefanova blundered on move 36, all that was left for the former world champion from Bulgaria was to save the draw.

Lilit Mkrtchian played a few weak moves with her king's knight and you shouldn't do this against Hou Yifan, who will spot 23.Bxg6! in a split second. Relatively best was to play 23...Kg8 there because White's attack was just too strong.

Anna Ushenina from the Ukraine soon found herself in a lost position after a very interesting novelty played by Aleksandra Kosteniuk in a line from the Nimzo-Indian. After that new move, Ushenina immediately made a big mistake and 16...d4 sealed here fate.



Round 4

	Name	Rtng	G1	G2	Rp1	Rp2	Bz1	Bz2	SD	Total
	Round 4 Match 01
RUS	Kosteniuk, Aleksandra	2510	?Ǭ?	1						1.5
UKR	Ushenina, Anna	2476	?Ǭ?	0						0.5
	Round 4 Match 02
IND	Koneru, Humpy	2622	1	1						2
CHN	Shen, Yang	2445	0	0						0
	Round 4 Match 03
ARM	Mkrtchian, Lilit	2436	?Ǭ?	0						0.5
CHN	Hou, Yifan	2557	?Ǭ?	1						1.5
	Round 4 Match 04
BUL	Stefanova, Antoaneta	2550	0	?Ǭ?						0.5
SWE	Cramling, Pia	2544	1	?Ǭ?						1.5

Links:

• Official website
• Games in PGN