Seeded players have smooth start, Harshita holds Soumya

Harshita Guddanti of AP held former World Junior Girls Champion and Woman Grandmaster Sowmya Swaminathan to a draw in the first round of the Women International Grand Master Chess Tournament-2013, held in celebration of the FIDE World Championship here today.
In the first round, the Sicilian game between Harshita and Soumya lasted 49 moves. Rest of the top boards saw seeded players coasting to easy victories.
Top seed Guramishvili Sopiko (Georgia) beat Chowdhury Mahmuda Hoque (Bangladesh). This eleven round 100-players event has the confirmed participation of 33 FIDE titled players including 11 Woman Grandmasters.
This is the first Woman GM tournament to be held in the city since 1987.

Round 1 Results (Indians unless specified) : Guramishvili Sopiko (Geo) bt Chowdhury Mahmuda Hoque, Bidhar Rutumbara lost to Batsiashvili Nino (Geo), Mary Ann Gomes bt Potlri Saye Srreezza, Priyanka Nuttaki lost S Vijayalakshmi, Harshita Guddanti drew with Soumya Swaminathan, D Meera lost to Ambartsumova Karina (Rus), V Toshali lost to Muminova Nafisa (Uzb), Keti Tsatsalashvili (Geo) bt I Harivardhini, C M N Sunyuktha lost to Nisha Mohata, Swathi Ghate bt Jahanara Haque (Ban), A Sowmia lost S Meenakshi, Kiran Manisha Mohanty bt A S Soughanthika.