Galliamova, Kosteniuk Bow Out

By Arvind Aaron

GM Koneru Humpy needed a draw with the black pieces to advance to round three and she obtained that without breaking a drop of sweat. She knocked out WGM Zhaoqin Peng of the Netherlands by 1.5-0.5 at Elista in Russia on May 25.

Humpy who had taken the lead by winning the opening game on Monday, drew the second one in 49 moves from an opposite colour bishop ending. The game followed the Tarakower variation of the queen's gambit with Humpy playing black. Humpy is playing in the world championship for the first time and is the top seed. She is now in the last 16 and her round two performance was more stable than her first.

Russia received a setback when two of their title aspirants, Alisa Galliamova and Alexandra Kosteniuk were eliminated from the championship. The 1977-born Georgian IWM Maia Lomineishvili beat Galliamova 2-0. Galliamova who had played for the world women's title before, lost playing badly with the white pieces in 33 moves. She moved her queen eleven times in her 33 turns and lost to a big black attack.

Viktoria Cmilyte needed a draw to advance and upset last world championship's finalist Kosteniuk. While in an attacking position, Cmilyte, saw a draw by repetition and grabbed it to win the tie 1.5-0.5 after 34 moves.

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