New Delhi, July 12 -- In a sensational second-round clash at the FIDE Women's World Cup, India's IM Vantika Agrawal pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far by eliminating former Women's World Champion GM Anna Ushenina. The intense match went the distance, with Vantika emerging victorious 4.5-3.5 after a series of nerve-wracking tiebreaks.

Both players were inseparable across the initial rapid playoffs, with the 15+10 and 10+10 segments ending in draws. The tension escalated as the match moved into the 5+3 blitz segment, where Vantika took down Anna.

In the first Blitz match, playing with the White pieces, Vantika displayed nerves of steel to edge out Ushenina in a dramatic encounter. She then held her ground with t...