Harika's medal chances alive

Woman Grandmaster D Harika kept her chances of a medal alive after a taking a draw with Gu Xiaobing of China in the 11th round of the World Junior Girls Chess Championship in Istanbul.

But former Asian Junior girls champion Tania Sachdev's medal prospects suffered a decisive setback after she was beaten by Woman Grandmaster Natalija Pogonina of Russia.

At the top of the tables, the lead position changed hands once again as German stalwart Elisabeth Paehtz grinded Irina Vasilevich of Russia to emerge as the new leader of the event.

Paehtz moved to 8.5 points out of a possible 11 and is now half a point ahead of Pogonina, Xiaobing, Vasilevich and Turkan Mamedjarova of Azerbaijan.

Harika with 7.5 points in her bag is joint sixth in the standing list and needs a fine finish now.

Among other Indian girls in the fray, Kruttika Nadig (6.5) crashed through the defences of Sopiko Khukhashvili of Georgia, Eesha Karavade (6.5) drew with another Georgian Melia Salome while N Raghavi (3.5) went down fighting against Dudas Eszter of Hungary.

In the boys' section, 2003 champion Grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov was once again content with a draw with Wang Yue of China. The Azerbaijani sensation is all set to conquer this section with 9.5 points to back him and a 1.5 points lead over nearest rivals Ferenc Berkes of Hungary and Tomi Nyback of Finland.