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UAE’s Salem, Dubov, Korobov Share First in Abu Dhabi Masters
GMs Saleh A.R. Salem of the UAE, Daniil Dubov of Russia and Anton Korobov of Ukraine shared first place with 7.5 points each out of 9 rounds in the Abu Dhabi Masters Chess Championship at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Salem used the Sicilian Defense against GM Aravindh Chitambaram of India, sacrificed his Queen on the 31st move and forced resignation on the 38th move with a Knight fork recovering material. Dubov outmaneuvered the Nimzo Indian defense of GM Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia, won the Queen on the 46th move and sealed the win on the 80th move. Korobov and Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia played to a friendly draw in 10 moves of a Reti opening.
In the Bucchjolz tie break system, Dubov emerged first followed by Korobov in second and Salem in third. Sargissian placed 4th alone with 7 points. Eleven players follow with 6.5 each, namely Cheparinov and Jojua Davit of Georgia, Richard Rapport of Hungary, Wang Hao of China, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Amin Bassem of Egypt, Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran, Murali Karthikeyan, Debashis Das and Harsha Bharathakoti of India and 14-year-old GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan.
In the Open division of 236 players, Jemal Overzdurdiyeva of Turkmenistan and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan tied for first with 8 points each. In the juniors for under-16 players, IM D. Gubesh of India won with 8 points out of 9 rounds.
Over $61,000 in cash prizes were at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.
A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries saw action in the Masters event. The Festival consisted of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.
Replay games on chess24.com. Look for ADchess in Youtube for running commentary by GM Viorel Iordachescu. Visit chess-results.com to download games.  GM Saleh A.R. Salem of the UAE (left) beat GM Aravindh Chitambaram of India (photo by Kevin Sarmiento). GM Daniiel Dubov of Russia (left) beat GM Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia (photo by Kevin Sarmiento). GM Anton Korbov of Ukraine (right) drew with GM Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia (photo by Kevin Sarmiento).
Korobov Grabs Solo Lead in Abu Dhabi Masters
Anton Korobov of Ukraine beat second seed Richard Rapport of Hungary to grab solo lead after the penultimate round of the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Masters championship at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Korobov, two time Ukraine champion and 2010 Abu Dhabi Masters champion, crushed the Queen’s Indian defense of Rapport. The Ukrainian sacrificed a pawn on the 26th move and forced an exchange of Queens to transpose to a favorable endgame. Unable to prevent pawn promotion, Rapport resigned on the 54th move. The win gave Korobov 7 points out of 8 rounds in the race for the top prize of $13,000.
GMs Saleh A.R. Salem of the UAE and Daniil Dubov of Russia drew in 20 moves of a Gruenfeld Defense to share second slot at 6.5 points together with GMs Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia and GM Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia
Sargissian smashed the English Opening of GM Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran in a marathon 74 moves with a Rook and pawn endgame. Cheparinov destroyed the Sicilian defense of GM Murali Karthikeyan of India in 56 moves with a minor piece endgame.
In the Open division of 236 players, three players maintained their lead with 7 points each after the penultimate 8th round, namely Sameer Loay of Jordan, Jemal Overzdurdiyeva of Turkmenistan and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan. In the juniors for under-16 players, IM D. Gubesh of India won with a final score of 8 points out of 9 rounds.
Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.
A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries are competing in the Masters event. The Festival consists of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.
Watch games live on chess24.com. Look for ADchess in Youtube for running commentary by GM Viorel Iordachescu. Visit chess-results.com to download games.
 GM Anton Korobov of Ukraine (left) beat GM Richard Rapport of Hungary (photo by Kevin Sarmiento)
 GM Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia (right) beat GM Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran (photo by Kevin Sarmiento)
 GM Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia beat GM Murali Karthikeyan of India (photo by Kevin Sarmiento) GM Saleh A.R. Salem of UAE (left) drew with GMDaniil Dubov of Russia (photo by Kevin Sarmiento)
UAE’s Salem Beats Top Seed to Climb Back on Top
GM Saleh A. R. Salem of the UAE beat top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam to climb back to a share of the lead with two others in the homestretch of the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Masters championship at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Salem crushed the Queen’s Indian defense of the Vietnamese with a Knight sacrifice on the 26th move. The Emirati capitalized on the black square weakness and threatened inevitable mate to force resignation on the 39th move. The win gave Salem 6 points out of 7 rounds together with GMs Daniil Dubov of Russia and Anton Korobov of Ukrraine who drew with each other in 18 moves of a Closed Catalan.
Six grandmasters follow with 5.5 points each in the race for the top prize of $13,000, namely Murali Karthikeyan and Arvindh Chithambaram of India, second seed Richard Rapport of Hungary, Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia and Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran.
Karthikeyan smashed the Sicilian Defense of GM Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia in 53 moves of a Rook and pawn endgame. Chitambaram needed a marathon 72 moves of a Scotch Game to beat Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukraine. Rapport beat GM Amin Tabatabaei of Iran in 22 moves of a Guioco Piano. Cheparinov used the Gruenfeld Defense to beat GM Daniele Vocaturo of Iraly in 52 moves. Sargissian punished the irregular opening of GM Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia in 51 moves. Maghsoodloo used the Queen’s Gambit Declined to beat GM S.L. Narayanan of India in 52 moves.
In the Open division of 236 players, five players maintained their lead with 6 points each after 7 rounds, namely Sameer Loay of Jordan, Jemal Overzdurdiyeva of Turkmenistan, Datar Sohan of India, Mohammad Al Saleh of Syria and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan. In the juniors for under-16 players, IM D. Gubesh of India grabbed solo lead with 7.5 points out of 8 rounds.
Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.
A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries are competing in the Masters event. The Festival consists of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.
Watch games live on chess24.com. Look for ADchess in Youtube for running commentary by GM Viorel Iordachescu. Visit chess-results.com to download games. 
GM Saleh A.R. Salem of the UAE (left) beat top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam.
GM Daniil Dubov of Russia (left) drew with GM Anton Korobov of Ukraine.
Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia (right) beat GM Daniele Vocaturo of Italy.
Dubov, Korobov Tie for Lead in Abu Dhabi
GM Daniil Dubov of Russia and GM Anton Korobov of Ukraine beat their respective opponents to share the lead with 5.5 points each after 6 rounds of the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Masters championship at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Dubov, 22, turned back the Reti opening of Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia. sacrificing the exchange on the 36th move to weave a mating net with Queen and Rook and force resignation on the 40th move. Korobov, 23, the 2010 Abu Dhabi Masters champion and two-time Ukrainian champion, crushed the Symmetrical opening of Chinese GM Wang Hao, threatening mate on the 35th move.
Erstwhile co-leader GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE is in third slot with 5 points after settling for a draw in 20 moves against the Trompovsky Attack of GM Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukraine.
Wang, Pantsulaia and Kravtsiv trail with 4.5 points together with 13 other GMs in the race for the top prize of $13,000. Four Indians are tied with them, namely Murali Karthikeyan, S.L. Narayanan, Chithambaram Aravindh and IM Sarin Nihal of India. Also tied at 4.5 points each are top seed Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, Richard Rapport of Hungary, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia, Daniele Vocaturo of Italy, Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia, Parham Maghsoodloo and Amin Tabatabaei of Iran, Mads Andersen of Denmark.
In the Open division of 236 players, four players share the lead with 5.5 points each after six rounds, namely Datar Sohan of India, Sameer Loay of Jordan, Jemal Overzdurdiyeva of Turkmenistan, Mohammad Al Saleh of Syria and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan.
In the juniors for under-16 players, Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan grabbed solo lead with perfect 7 points followed by IM D. Gubesh of India in second slot with 6.5 points out of 7 rounds.
Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.
A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries are competing in the Masters event. The Festival consists of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.
Watch games live on chess24.com. Look for ADchess in Youtube for running commentary by GM Viorel Iordachescu. Visit chess-results.com to download games.
 GM Daniil Dubov of Russia (right) beat GM Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia(photo by Kevin Sarmiento)
 GM Anton Korobov of Ukraine (left) beat GM Wang Hao of China (photo by Kevin Sarmiento) Abu Dhabi Chess Club chairman Hussain Khoury (right) with Abdulrahim Mahdi at his Chessman Shop in the tournament venue.
UAE’s Salem Surges Into Lead
GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE beat GM Amin Bassem of Egypt to surge into the lead with four others after five rounds of the Abu Dhabi Chess Masters at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
In a Ruy Lopez game, Salem penetrated with his Rook on the seventh rank on the 22nd move and trapped the Egyptian’s king in the center to threaten inevitable mate on the 41st move. The win gave Salem 4.5 points out of 5 rounds to share the lead with GMs Wang Hao of China, Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia, Anton Korobov of Ukraine and Daniil Dubov of Russia.
Wang crushed the King’s Indian defense of Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo in 37 moves of a Rook and pawn endgame. Pantsulaia used the Reti opening to beat GM Nigel Short of England in 40 moves. Korobov smashed the Slav defense of GM Ahmed Adly of Egypt with a mating net in only 29 moves. Dobov, erstwhile solo leader, was held to a draw by Vladimir Fedoseev in 30 moves of a Queen’s Gambit.
Fedoseev trails with 4 points together with 5 others, namely GMs S.L. Narayanan of India, Richard Rapport of Hungary, Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukarine, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia and Daniele Vocaturo of Italy.
In the Open division of 236 players, Datar Soham of India and Mohammad Al Saleh of Syria are tied for the lead with 5 points in as many rounds. In the juniors for under-16 players, I.R.Sirhan and V. Pranav of India and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan share the lead with perfect 5 point slates.
Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.
A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries are competing in the Masters event. The Festival consists of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.
Watch games live on chess24.com. Look for ADchess in Youtube for running commentary by GM Viorel Iordachescu. Visit chess-results.com to download games.
GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE (left) beat GM Amin Bassem of Egypt.
GM Wang Hao of China (left) beat GM Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran.
GM Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia (left) beat GM Nigel Short of England.
GM Anton Korobov of Ukraine (left) beat GM Ahmed Adly of Egypt.
Dubov Grabs Solo Lead in Abu Dhabi Masters Chess
Russian Grandmaster Daniil Dubov beat GM Daniele Vocaturo of Italy to grab solo lead with four points after four rounds of the Abu Dhabi Masters at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Dubov used the Sicilian defense and pried open his opponent’s king with a Bishop sacrifice on the 21st move and threatened mate to win the Queen, forcing resignation on the 38th move. Dubov, 22, formerly shared first place at the age of 16 in the Russian Championship Higher League.
Local hero GM Salem A.R. Saleh and nine others follow in second slot with 3.5 points each. Salem used the Hungarian Defense to beat FM Sundar Syam of India in 36 moves.
Grandmasters tied with Salem are second seed Richard Rapport of Hungary, Amin Bassem and Ahmed Adly of Egypt, Wang Hao of China, Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukraine, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia, Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran and Anton Korobov of Ukraine.
In the Open division of 236 players, FIDE Master Sedrani Ammar of the UAE and six others are tied for the lead with 4 points each after as many rounds. In the juniors L.R. Srihari and V. Pranav of India and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan share the lead with perfect 5 point slates out of 5 rounds.
The blitz championship on the free day of Friday was won by GM Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, prevailing in a tie with GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam at 9.5 points each out of 11 rounds, to split the $1,700 cash prize. S.L. Narayanan of India placed third with 9 points winning the tie break over GM Wang Hao of China and Chithambaram Aravindh of India.
Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.
A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries are competing in the Masters event. The Festival consists of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.
Watch games live on chess24.com. Look for ADchess in Youtube for running commentary by GM Viorel Iordachescu. Visit chess-results.com to download games.
 GM Daniil Dobov of Russia (right) beat GM Danielle Vocaturo of Italy to grab solo lead after four rounds.
GM Vladimir Fedoseev won the blitz championship held in the Friday free day.
Six GMs Lead Abu Dhabi Masters Chess
Richard Rapport of Hungary beat GM Mads Andersen of Denmark on top board to share the lead with five other grandmasters with perfect scores after three rounds of the Abu Dhabi Masters Chess Championship at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Rapport smashed the Sicilian Defense of Andersen, penetrating with his Rook on the seventh rank then forced exchanges to transpose to a Rook and pawn endgame and force resignation on the 56th move.
Tied with Rapport at 3 points each are GMs Wang Hao of China, Daniil Dubov of Russia, Amin Bassem of Egypt, Martin Kravtsiv of Ukraine and Daniele Vocaturo of Italy. Wang beat GM S.L. Narayanan of India in 61 moves of a Ruy Lopez. Dubov crushed the Sicilian defense of GM Alireza Firouzja of Iran in only 33 moves. Bassem used the King’s Indian defense to outmaneuver IM Sarin Nihal of India in 48 moves of a Rook and pawn endgame. Kravtsiv beat IM Arjun Erigaisi of India in 63 moves of a Catalan. Vocaturo outplayed IM Gunay Mammadzada of Azerbaijan in 38 moves.
Local hero GM Salem A.R. Saleh smashed the Sicilian defense of FM Rithvik Raja of India in only 28 moves to trail with 2.5 points together with 18 others in the 9-round Swiss system tournament among 158 players.
In the Open division of 236 players, Woman Candidate Master Varshini Sahithi of India and 15 others tie for the lead with 3 points. In the junior division with 184 players, four Indians are in the lead pack of 8 players with 4 points out of as many rounds.
Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.
A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries are competing in the Masters event. The Festival consists of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.
Two rounds are scheduled on Saturday. Watch games live on chess24.com. Look for ADchess in Youtube for running commentary by GM Viorel Iordachescu. Visit chess-results.com to download games.
GM Richard Rapport of Hungary (left) beat GM Mads Andersen of Denmark on top board.
GM Viorel Iordachescu gives running commentary during the games.
Favorites Continue Early Lead in Abu Dhabi Chess Festival
GM Richard Rapport of Hungary beat World Girls Champion IM Dinara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan to set the pace after two rounds of the 25th Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Masters at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Rapport, second seed in the 158 player tournament, used the Nimzo-Indian defense and unleashed a queenside pawn storm to win on the 31st move. The 22-year-old Rapport shares early lead with 20 other grandmasters.
Five Indian players are in the lead pack, namely GMs Chitambaran Aravindh, 19, S.L. Narayanan, Prasanna Vishnu, and IMs Sarin Nihal and Arjun Arigasi. Also with two points each are Chinese GM Wang Hao, Ivan Cheparinov and Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia, Vladimir Fedoseev and Danil Dubov of Russia, Amin Bassim of Egypt, Nigel Short of England, Martin Kravtsiv of Ukraine, Parham Magsoodloo and Alireza Firouzja of Iran, Daniele Vocaturo of Italy, Mads Andersen of Denmark and Teymour Kuybokarov of Uzbekistan.
In the Open division of 236 players, ten Indian players form the largest group in the lead pack of 46 players with 2 points each. In the junior division with 184 players, Rayan Mohammed Al Hasan and ten other UAE players are in the lead pack among 40 players with 2 points each out of two rounds.
Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.
A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries are competing in the Masters event. The Festival consists of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.
Games are scheduled 5pm. There are no matches on Friday but there will be a simultaneous exhibition at 3pm and a blitz tournament starting 5pm. A family tournament and a Homeland protectors’ tournament will be held 2pm on 13 August. Visit chess-results.com to download games.
GM Richard Rapport of Hungary (right) beat World Girls Champion Dinara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan.
Record Participation in 25th Abu Dhabi Chess Festival
Unseeded FIDE Master V.S. Rathanvel of India upset top seed GM Le Quang Leim of Vietnam in the opening round of the 25th Abu Dhabi Chess Festival at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The 17-year-old Rathanvel, rated 2348, crushed the Caro Kann defense of the Vietnamese champion, rated 2727. The Indian gave the Rook for Bishop exchange on the 18th move then embarked on a king hunt with Queen and two Bishops to force resignation on the 59th move.
Rathanvel and 36 other players from India are in a group of 70 players who won in the first round. Local hero GM Salem A.R. Saleh was held to a draw by untitled 15-year-old Sankalp Gupta of India who used the Queen’s Indian defense and drew by repetition of position in 57 moves.
Amlong the leading grandmasters are former Abu Dhabi Open champion Wang Hao of China, Richard Rapport of Hungary, Irwin Cheparinov of Georgia, Vladimir Fedoseev and Danil Dubov of Russia, Amin Bassem of Egypt, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia, Anton Korobov andf Martin Kravtsiv of Ukraine, Nigel Short of England and Vladimir Akopian of Armenia.
Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.
"The festival has become a unique event on the international calendar of chess masters. The International Chess Federation have included the festival in its annual program and many popular newspapers and websites are covering the progress, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Hussain Khoury, told a press conference.
"We are grateful to Shaikh Saif for his kind patronage of the event. We expect the event will be a big success as we have received a large number of entries following the increase in prize money, he added.
A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries are competing in the Masters event. The Festival consists of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.
Games are scheduled 4pm. There are no matches on Friday but there will be a simultaneous exhibition at 3pm and a blitz tournament starting 5pm. A family tournament and a Homeland protectors’ tournament will be held 2pm on 13 August.
In the Open, a record 236 players from 34 countries are competing in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. In the juniors, 184 players from 18 countries are competing including 73 juniors from the UAE. Visit chess-results.com for results and standings.
"We increased the prize money to Dhs 300,000 in our quest to attract more top quality entries, which will ensure that the event us a success," added. Hussain Abdullah Khoury
"We are happy that the festival coincides with the UAE's celebrations of the Accession Day of His Highness Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President."
Khoury, who is also the Vice President of the UAE Chess Federation, said that the UAE's players have a good chance of winning titles at the festival.
"The UAE's players will benefit the most from the festival as it will be a good chance for them to play against the world's best masters and we have excellent players who can win titles," Khoury said.
Top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam (right) got the upset axe in the first round against FM V.S. Rathanvel of India.
The inauguration was also attended by, Hussain Abdullah Khoury (left), Director of the festival and Hassan Ramadan President of the Kuwait Chess Federation Hussain Al Shamsi General secretary of the UAE chess Federation Abdul Mohsin Fahad Al Dosari, Acting General Authority of sports, Sultan Al Daheri Executive Director Etisalat Abu dhabi, Omran Al Khoory President Business Development from VPS group were the dignitaries on the opening ceremony representing the sponsors.
GM Salem A. R. Saleh of the UAE (left) was held to a draw by untitled 15-year-old Sankalp Gupta of India.
Forty Seven Grandmasters are competing in the Masters.
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