Harikrishna beats Hou Yifan in Round 6 of Biel chess festival

After a much-needed day of rest, Indian Grand Master Pentala Harikrishna came back strong to defeat the 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 wary of his opponent's attacking prowess here late on Sunday night.

He, however, gradually started shifting gears and forced the Chinese Grand Master to commit mistakes and capitalised on those.

"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 grueling 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 acquires the first position currently.

Harikrishna will be up against the top seed of the tournament, David Navara, for his seventh-round game later on Monday.

Though Navara is down the pecking order in the points tally, Harikrishna will be wary of his attacking prowess after the defeat in the final of the Rapid Tournament against him.

--IANS

tri/vt