FIDE Update: India’s R. Vaishali Bags Silver Medal for India in World Women’s Team Chess Championship
Favorite On Saturday, Russia defeated India 2-0 to reclaim the FIDE World Women’s Team Chess Championship in Sitges, Spain. The silver medal marks India’s first in this top team competition as the fourth seed.
After winning the first set 2.5-1.5, Russia, the 2017 winner, had it easy in the second. All India managed were draws on the top two boards, while the Russians scored off Tania Sachdev and Mary Ann Gomes for a 3-1 triumph.
Earlier, veteran world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk beat youthful R. Vaishali on the second board in the opening set, but Harika startled Aleksandra Goryachkina to equalize the match. In the knockout stage, Bhakti lost her third straight loss in as many games. After failing to convert her dominance into a match-leveling win, Mary drew.
The final results are as follows:
1st Set: Russia vs. India 2.5 to 1.5 (Aleksandra Goryachkina lost to D. Harika; Alexandra Kosteniuk bt R. Vaishali; Kateryna Lagno bt Bhakti Kulkarni; Alina Kashlinskaya drew with Mary Ann Gomes).
India was defeated 1-3 by Russia in the second set (Harika drew with Goryachkina; Vaishali drew with Kosteniuk; Tania Sachdev lost to Lagno; Mary lost to Alina Kashlinskaya).
