23 February 2017
Alexandra Kosteniuk Loses First Semifinal Game
Tan Zhongyi won a starting game in another semifinal.
The Semifinals of Women's World Chess Championship started in Tehran. The game between Alexandra Kosteniuk and Anna Muzychuk took a dramatic course. White won a pawn on the 19th move, but in the subsequent game both sides' play was far from perfect. The former World Champion maintained a stable advantage, however, made a big blunder on the 56th move in a mutual time trouble, giving Black the winning position. In a few more moves Kosteniuk resigned.
In another semifinal, Tan Zhongyi outplayed Harika Dronavalli. White executed an energetic kingside attack that gave her an overwhelming advantage.
The return game are played on Friday, February 24, at 2:30 pm Moscow time. Dronavalli and Muzychuk are playing White.
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