Harika adjudged best blitz player
Grand Master Harika Dronavalli added another feather to her cap by winning the best women’s player award in the Eurasian Blitz chess tournament in Kazakhstan.
The India number two player picked up a cash prize of $2500 and 60 ELO points to regain her position in the top 10. Harika had won the best woman’s prize at the Zalakaros International Chess Festival in Hungary last week to jump to world number 9 in the classical rankings list.
“I am really delighted to win these two awards back to back,” the Andhra Pradesh player said.
The 25-year-old’s win is particularly impressive as the Blitz tournament saw an elite field, including world number one Hou Yifan of China. In fact, she was tied with Yifan with 12.5 points at the end of the tournament and ended up victorious in the tie-breaker.
“It was a great opportunity for me,” said Harika. “Many top players were there as it was an open tournament and this has done wonders to my confidence.”
Harika revealed that she got the invitation for the tournament at the last minute. “Luckily, I was already in Europe. I got all the visa work and ticketing from there itself.”
She beat Russia’s GM Boris Savchenko in the course of the tournament who is rated 2706 in the Blitz chess. “I was really happy with this win,” Harika said. Lyon, June 21: Portugal coach Fernando Santos is backing misfiring Cristiano Ronaldo to break his Euro 2016 duck by netting against Hungary on Wednesday to help fire his side into the last 16.
Ronaldo is still waiting for his opening goal in France to become the first person to score at four consecutive European championship finals.
The 31-year-old is the holder of numerous goal-scoring records, but he has yet to hit the net at Euro 2016, despite 20 chances so far.
Ronaldo set a new Portuguese record with his 128th international cap in Saturday’s goalless draw with Austria — a milestone over- shadowed by his penalty miss.
He crashed a 79thminute spot-kick against the post in Paris having also failed to score in the 1-1 draw with Iceland Tuesday.
This has been a frustrating tournament for Ronaldo. His Portugal side has failed to live up to their pre-tournament billing as Group F favourites.
They lie only third in the table behind Iceland and Hungary, who they must beat at the Stade de Lyon to be sure of reaching the last 16.
“Ronaldo is a player who scores a lot of goals and I’m sure he will score in the next game against Hungary,” said Santos.
Portugal had 23 shots on the Austria goal — hitting the woodwork twice — and Santos expects his side to find the net and win ‘ugly’ if need be. last — AFP