The Indian women suffered a marginal 1.5-2.5 defeat at the hands of Russia as Koneru Humpy let a winning position slip out of hands in the fourth round of World Women's Team Chess Championship underway here.
Humpy outplayed top rated Russian Valentina Gunina but it was sheer bad luck when the Indian blundered after attaining a completely winning position. Gunina pounced on her chance and turned the tables in a span of a few seconds and it was curtains to the aspirations of the team too in this match.
On the second board, Harika, unruffled by Humpy's loss, put it across former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk who played white. In the French defense game Harika sensed her chances in the endgame after winning a pawn and returned it back just in time to stop any active counter play. Kosteniuk was outdone when Harika marched her pawns to glory.
Padmini Rout put up a spirited show from a bad position to hold world junior champion Alexandra Goryachkina to a draw. Up against a Caro Kann Rout was under huge pressure right from the beginning and it was a tactical stroke that saved the day for the Indian.
The fourth board remained a problem for India as Soumya Swaminathan suffered her second defeat in the championship. Landing in to a lost position after the opening, Soumya fought well but her position with a pawn less could change the result or Indian fortunes here.
With just two points from four matches, the Indian women continue to reel at the ninth spot. Georgia leads the tables on seven points while the Russians are now clear second a point behind China. Ukraine and Armenia share the third spot on five points apiece. Four more rounds remain in the ten-teams round-robin championship.
Results round 4: India (2) lost to Russia (6) 1.5-2.5 (Koneru Humpy lost to Valentina Gunina; Alexandra Kosteniuk lost to D Harika; Padmini Rout drew with Alexandra Goryachkina; Olga Girya beat Soumya Swaminatha); Georgia (7) beat Kazakhstan 3-1; Ukraine (5) beat USA (3) 3-1; Egypt (0) lost to China (5) 0-4; Poland (3) lost to Armenia (5)1.5-2.5.
