Women's World Championship Semi-Finals

Official website report

The first games of the Women’s World Championship semifinals were played in Khanty-Mansiysk

Antoaneta Stefanova from Bulgaria took the lead against the Indian Harika Dronavalli, winning the first game of the match with White pieces.

The former World Champion got a promising position after the opening. After lengthy maneuvering White made a break on the kingside and won a pawn. Black still had drawing chances and could equalize with accurate defending, but Harika impatiently went for a sharp counterattack. She sacrificed another pawn and then a piece, but miscalculated and did not get sufficient compensation for her losses. Stefanova combined defensive moves with threats to the black king and finished the game with a nice tactical blow that inevitably led to a checkmate.

Antoaneta Stefanova (right) defeated Harika Dronavalli in their first match game

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Anna Ushenina (Ukraine) trapped her opponent Ju Wenjun (China) in the opening to obtain an overwhelming advantage. The Chinese did not defend perfectly, and her position soon became critical. However, the Ukrainian wrongly rejected the opponent’s exchange sacrifice, and Black managed to come back. A draw was agreed on the 28^th move.

Anna Ushenina (left) and Ju Wenjun drew their game

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Results:

Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) – Harika Dronavalli (India) 1-0

Anna Ushenina (Ukraine) – Ju Wenjun (China) draw

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The remaining schedule is below. Games start at 15:00 local time (09:00 UTC).

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The 2012 championship runs from 11 November - 2 December, with each round consisting of 2-game matches (4 in the final) between the players drawn against one another. Tied matches are decided by rapid and blitz tie-break deciders.

Pictures via the official website. Games via TWIC.