Indian Grand Master Harika Dronavalli bounced back after three consecutive draws in the previous rounds to comprehensively register her third win of the tournament against GM Ivan Rozum of Russia, in the seventh round of the Master’s tournament of the Abu Dhabi international Chess Festival, late here in the capital city of UAE last night.
The World number nine Indian, playing with white pieces, started the game on an attacking note and gained an advantage in the initial stages of the game.
However, the 12-year-old lad from Azerbaijan put up a staunch fight to contain the attacking Indian but couldn’t do so as Harika took the game away from him after 40 moves.
“I got off to a great start and gained an advantage in the initial phases of the game but a few miscalculated moves from my end got me in a complicated position,” Harika said after her game.
“Although when we were both were under the pressure of the clock and both kings were under attack, I outplayed him with a few strategies of my own,” she added.
After seven rounds in the nine-round Swiss tournament, the lass from Guntur has amassed a total of four and a half points courtesy of three wins, three draws and just one loss to break into the top ten of the standings.
The currently ninth placed Indian will take on GM Ivan Rozum from Russia in the eighth round of the tournament in her pursuit of the coveted crown.