HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Phạm Lê Thảo Nguyên shocked the world to become one of the top 16 chess masters at the FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship underway in Tehran, Iran. Nguyên, who ranks No 119 in the world, defeated No 21 Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia 1.5-0.5 in the second round on Wednesday. Her next rival is world rapid chess defending champion Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine. The world No 3 and European No 1 defeated Alina Kashlinskaya of Russia 1.5-0.5. Meanwhile, in a must-win game, Chinese Tan Zhongyi equalised against Ukrainian Anna Ushenina, while Nataliya Buksa, also from Ukraine, struck back against Georgian Sopiko Guramishvili.

Source: Viet Nam News February 16, 2017 08:58 UTC