Harikrishna beats Chinese GM at Biel chess meet

Indian Grand Master Pentala Harikrishna defeated former three-time Womens World Champion and Chinese Grand Master Hou Yifan in an enthralling sixth-round encounter at the 50th Biel International Chess Festival here.

The World No.20 Indian, playing with white pieces, started the game here late on Sunday night wary of his opponent's attacking prowess.

However, he gradually started shifting gears and forced the Chinese Grand Master to commit mistakes and capitalised as soon as she did.

"It was an equal game but I kept pushing and she gave me a chance to push G4 on the 38th move and thereafter the advantage was with me and I won the game," the 31-year-old from Guntur said after a long and gruelling game.

At the end of six rounds, Harikrishna has registered two wins and four draws to remain undefeated and move up to joint second with four points, half a point away from Frenchman Etienne Bacrot who acquired the first position currently.

Harikrishna will be up against top seed David Navara in the seventh round. Even though Navara is down the pecking order in the points tally, Harikrishna will be on guard against his attacking prowess after losing to him in the final of the Rapid Tournament earlier this year.

--IANS

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