Harika stuns world champion Ju Wenjun in FIDE Women's GP
With two points, the Indian star is in joint lead with four others
Lausanne: Indian Grandmaster Dronavalli Harika inflicted a defeat on world champion Ju Wenjun in the third round of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix chess tournament here.
Harika, the world No.9, is in joint lead with two points after three rounds along with four others.
The Indian outlasted the 29-year old Chinese player, ranked No.3 in the world, in 54 moves with white pieces late on Wednesday.
The others on two points include Russians Alina Kashlinskaya and Alexandra Goryachkina, Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine and Georgia's Nana Dzagnidze.
Three of the six games on the day were decisive ones with Kashlinskaya and Muzychuk registering wins. Kashlinskaya defeated former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk while Anna Muzychuk got the better of Frrance's Marie Sebag in 38 moves.
The 29-year old Harika faces Dzagnidze in the fourth round later on Thursday.
Results: Round 3: Dronavalli Harika (IND) 2 beat Ju Wenjun (CHN) 1; Anna Muzychuk (UKR) 2 beat Marie Sebag (FRA) 1; Alexandra Goryachkina (RUS) 2 drew Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) 1; Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) 0.5 lost to Alina Kashlinskaya (RUS) 1; Antoneta Stefanova (BUL) 1.5 drew with Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) 2; Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) 1.5 drew with Pia Cramling (SWE) 1.5.