Favorites Falter at the Women's World Championship

American IM Irina Krush upset GM Pia Cramling to make it to Quarterfinals

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th seeds at the Women's World Championship have been eliminated after only two rounds out of six.  

In the second round, there were many upsets.  Amongst others, the current women's world champion and second seed, GM Hou Yifan (2606), was eliminated in a tiebreak loss to GM Monika Socko (2445).  Top seed GM Humpy Koneru (2610) was knocked out in a loss to GM Natalia Zhukova (2451).  Third seed GM Anna Muzychuk (2586) was eliminated in a loss to IM Anna Ushenina (2452).  Finally, fifth seed GM Kateryna Lahno (2553) lost to IM Lela Javakhishvili (2455).

Hear are the pairings for Round 3:

GM Monika Socko (2445) vs. GM Antoaneta Stefanova (2491)

GM Marie Sebag (2521) vs. IM Alisa Galliamova (2468)

GM Zhao Xue (2565) vs. IM Mariya Muzychuk (2476)

IM Lela Javakhishvili (2455) vs. GM Harika Dronavalli (2512)

GM Tatiana Kosintseva (2515) vs. GM Nadezhda Kosintseva (2539)

WGM Natalia Pogonina (2478) vs. IM Anna Ushenina (2452)

IM Irina Krush (2470, USA) vs. WGM Qian Huang (2465)

GM Natalia Zhukova (2451) vs. WGM Ju Wenjun (2501)