Harilka held to draw in Grand Prix chess

Chengdu, July 7: India’s Grand Master Harika Drovalli had to face a tough battle to earn a draw and a well-deserved half-point against Camling Pia of Sweden in the Fide Women's Grand Prix here on Thursday. The young Hyderabadi had to fall back on the defensive as the game got complicated and agreed to a draw after 31 moves.
Harika slipped to the third position following the draw with 3.5 points after five games. "My opponent surprised me in the opening. I was faced with a variation that I hadn't played before. I could not get much out of the situation and had to settle for a draw," Harika said. Koneru Humpy the other Indian Grand Master in the fray, also played out a draw against Javakhishvili Lela of Georgia. Harika will play against World No. 5 An Muzychuk of Ukraine on Friday. IANS