GM Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia won by tie break over six other players to garner the top prize of $15,000 in the 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah.
Finishing in a tie at 7 points each were top seed Wang Hao of China, Yuriy Kryvoruchko of Ukraine, Allireza Firouzja of Iran, Maxim Matlakov of Russia, Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uazbekistan and Sandro Mareco of Argentina. Inarkiev won by Buccholz tie break followed by Wang for silver and Kryvoruchko for bronze.
Playing Black against compatriot GM Maxim Matlakov, Inarkiev survived attack and counter-attack to reach a drawn Rook and Pawn endgame in 60 moves. Inarkiev was formerly Kyrgyz champion in 1999 but switched in 2000 to Russia and now lives in Elista, Kalmyk Republic, Russia. He won the Russian junior championship in 2002.
Wang, the defending champion, and Kryvoruchko played a Ruy Lopez game for a quick 15-move draw to insure their podium finish.
Alireza used the Sicilian defense and won a Bishop on a blunder on the 16th move by IM Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam who resigned on the 36th move.
Yakubboev smashed the Dutch Defense of Vladimir Fedoseev in 47 moves. The Uzbek castled on the opposite wing, broke through the center and penetrated with Queen and Rook to threaten mate.
Mareco used the King’s Indian Defense to win in 50 moves against Vishnu Prasanna of India in a Rook and minor piece endgame.
Five players follow with 6.5 points to share the $60,000 prize fund, namely Alan Pichot of Argentina, Ahmed Adly of Egypt, Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran, Sanan Sjugirov of Russia and Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan. Also with 6.5 points but out of the prize money by tie break are child prodigy Nihal Sarin, 14, and G.A. Stany, both of India.
A strong field of 178 players from 31 countries participated including 33 Grandmasters, 32 International Masters and 15 FIDE Masters. Two Woman Grandmasters, seven WIMs and 7 WFMs round of the titled players.
The tournament was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
 GM Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia receives his Cup and $15,000 prize. From left are Talal Al Zaabi, Organizing Committee Chairman, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Mualla, Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club Chairman, Inarkiev and Khaled Essa Al Medfaa, General Secretary Assistant for UAE Sport Authority. The closing ceremony was attended by UAE Chess Federation president Dr. Sarhan Al Muaini. (Photo by Abdulla Murad)  Winners and organizers. (photo by Adeeb Zehrawi)  GM Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia
Four in race for Sharjah Masters Chess crown
Defending champion Wang Hao of China, Ernesto Inarkiev and Maxim Matlakov of Russia and Yuriy Kryvoruchko of Ukraine share the lead with 6.5 points each after the penultimate 8th round of the 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjahm, within sight of the top prize of $15,000
Wang, 30, used the Sicilian defense to outplay the youthful IM Vakhidov Shamsiddin, 16, of Uzbekistan. The Chinese ace seized the open file and penetrated with Queen and Rook to force resignation on the 39th move.
Matlakov, 28, the European individual champion in 2017, turned back the English Opening of GM Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran. The Russian opened the center with a pawn sacrifice and capitalized on his opponent’s blunder to win material and force resignation on the 43rd move.
Kryvoruchko, 32, outclassed untitled 13-year-old Aditya Mittal of India who essayed the Gruenfeld Defense. The Ukrainian controlled the seventh rank and weaved a mating net with Queen and Rook to win in 40 moves. Kryvoruchko graduated from Lviv University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering in 2008 and was a member of the Ukraine team which won the bronze in the 2009 European Team Championship.
Erstwhile solo leader Inarkiev played a quick 15-move drew with Alireza Firouzja of Iran to yield a share for first. Inarkiev was formerly Kyrgyz champion in 1999 but switched in 2000 to Russia and now lives in Elista, Kalmyk Republic, Russia. He won the Russian junior championship in 2002.
Firouzja and seven other players follow with 6 points apiece, namely GMs Alan POichot and Sandro Mareco of Argentina, Vishnu Prasanna of India, Vldimir Fedoseev of Russia, Nodirbek Takubboev and Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan and Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam.
A strong field of 178 players from 31 countries includes 33 Grandmasters, 32 International Masters and 15 FIDE Masters. Two Woman Grandmasters, seven WIMs and 7 WFMs round of the titled players.
The tournament is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. At stake is a total of $60,000 in cash prizes.
Games are broadcast live on chess sites. Visit chess-results.com for round by round pairings and to download games.  GM Maxim Matlakov of Russia  GM Yuriy Kryvoruchko of Ukraine  GM Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia (left) vs. GM Alireza Firouzja of Iran.
Inarkiev Maintains Slim Lead in Sharjah Masters
Grandmaster Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia drew with defending champion Wang Hao of China to maintain a slim half point lead in the homestretch of the 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah.
Inarkiev, alone with 6 points out of 7 rounds, was formerly Kyrgyz champion in 1999 but switched in 2000 to Russia and now lives in Elista, Kalmyk Republic, Russia. He won the Russian junior championship in 2002. Wang Hao, the top seed with a rating of 2718, essayed the English Opening but could not make headway in a marathon 114 moves finishing in a drawn Rook endgame.
Wang shares second slot with six others in the race for the top prize of $15,000. Tied at 5.5 points each are untitled 13 year old Aditya Mittal of India, GMs Maxim Matlakov of Russia , Yuriy Kryvoruchko of Ukraine, 16 year old GM Shamsiddin Vakhidov of Uzbekistan and GMs Parham Maghsoodloo and Alireza Firouzja of Iran.
Mittal smashed the Gruenfeld defense of GM Idani Pouya of Iran. Castling on opposite wings, the Indian child prodigy advanced his kingside pawns to expose his opponent’s king. Mittal won the exchange on the 32nd move and Pouya resigned five moves later.
Matlakov crushed the Queen’s Indian defense of Alexander Fier of Brazil. The Russian developed quickly, doubling Rooks on the d-file and penetrating the seventh rank. After a pawn thrust exposed the castled King, Matlakov weaved a mating net and forced resignation on the 31st move.
Kryvoruchko essayed the Four Knights variation of the English Opening and outplayed the youthful Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan, 17, with unstoppable mate on the 37th move.
Maghsoodloo used the Sicilian defense and drew with Vakhidov in 42 moves of a Rook and minor piece endgame. Vladimir Fedoseev used the Dutch Defense and drew by repetition of position with Nihal Sarin of India in 49 moves.
Twenty four players follow with 5 points each. A strong field of 178 players from 31 countries includes 33 Grandmasters, 32 International Masters and 15 FIDE Masters. Two Woman Grandmasters, seven WIMs and 7 WFMs round of the titled players.
The tournament is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. At stake is a total of $60,000 in cash prizes.
Games start 6pm daily and are broadcast live on chess sites. Visit chess-results.com for round by round pairings and to download games.  In foreground, Russian GM Ernesto Inarkiev (right) drew with defending champion GM Wang Hao of China (photo by Adeeb Zehrawi).  Sharing second slot is 16-year-old IM Shamsiddin Vakhidov of Uzbekistan.  GM Yuriy Kryvoduchko of Ukraine, right, beat youthful Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan in the seventh round (photo by Adeeb Zehrawi).
Inarkiev Back on Top in Sharjah International Chess Championship
Russian Grandmaster Ernesto Inarkiev beat Abhijeet Gupta of India to take back solo lead with 5.5 points after 6 rounds of the 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah.
Inarkiev was formerly Kyrgyz champion in 1999 but switched in 2000 to Russia and now lives in Elista, Kalmyk Republic, Russia. He won the Russian junior championship in 2002. Gupta essayed the Sicilian Defense and blundered on the 37th move to lose the exchange of Rook for Bishop. Gupta, 30, former world junior champion in 2008 and Indian champion in 2013, was four time Commonwealth chess champion.
Two teenage International Masters from Uzbekistan share second slot with 5 points each together with defending champion and top seed Wang Hao of China and GM Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran.
Seventeen year old IM Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan, rated 2494, upset third seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, 2715. Yakubboev sacrificed Rook for Bishop on the 38th move and weaved a mating net to force resignation on the 54th move.
IM Vakhidov Shamsiddin, 16, also of Uzbekistan, shocked GM Adly Ahmed of Egypt who resigned on the 44th move of an Open Catalan game unable to prevent pawn promotion.
Erstwhile co-leaders Wang Hao and Maghsoodloo played a quick 14-move draw to remain in the race for the top prize of $15,000.
Gupta and six Indian players follow in a group of 19 tied at 4.5 points each. The other Indian players are GMs Chakkravarthy Deepan, Nihal Sarin and Vishnu Prasanna, IMs N.R. Vignesh and Raunak Sadhwani and Aditya Mittal. Also with 4.5 points are GMs Alan Pichot and Sandro mareco of Argentina, Alexander Fier of Brazil, Alireza Firouzja and Idani Pouya of Iran, Vladimir Fedoseev, Sanan Sjugirov and Maxim Matlakov of Russia, Alexander Zubov and Yuriy Kryvoruchko of Ukraine, Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan and Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam.
A strong field of 178 players from 31 countries includes 33 Grandmasters, 32 International Masters and 15 FIDE Masters. Two Woman Grandmasters, seven WIMs and 7 WFMs round of the titled players.
The tournament is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. At stake is a total of $60,000 in cash prizes.
Games start 6pm daily and are broadcast live on chess sites. Visit chess-results.com for round by round pairings and to download games.
 Top board action in foreground between GMs Parham Maghsooloo of Iran (left) and defending champion GM Wang Hao of China played a quick draw. In second row GM Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia (left) beat GM Abhijeet Gupta of India to take back solo lead.  IM Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan
Four Share Lead in Sharjah Masters Chess
Defending champion Wang Hao of China, Abhijeet Gupta of India, Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia and Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran share the lead with 4.5 points each out of 5 rounds of the 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah.
Wang, 30, the top seed with a rating of 2718, crushed the Modern Benoni defense of GM Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli of Venezuela in 34 moves. Gupta, 30, former world junior champion in 2008 and Indian champion in 2013, used the Closed Catalan to win a Bishop and pawn endgame in 45 moves with a better pawn structure. Gupta was four time Commonwealth chess champion. Maghsoodloo used the Sicilian Defense against Chanda Sandipan of India to win the Rook and pawn endgame in 50 moves. Erstwhile solo leader Inarkiev was held to a draw by GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam in 29 moves of a Ruy Lopez.
Seventeen players follow in second slot in the race for the top prize of $15,000. Tied with 4 points each are GMs Alexander Fier of Brazil, Adly Ahmed of Egypt, Deepan Chakkravarthy J., N.R. Vignesh, Nihal Sarin and IM Sadhwani Raunak of India, Idani Pouya and Firouzja Alireza of Iran, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, FM Koniahli Malek of Syria, Alexander Zubov and Yuriy Kryvoruhko of Ukraine, Vokhidov Shamsiddin, IMs Abdusattorov Nodirbek and Yakubboev Nodirbek of Uzbekistan and Le Quang Liem and IM Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam.
A strong field of 178 players from 31 countries includes 33 Grandmasters, 32 International Masters and 15 FIDE Masters. Two Woman Grandmasters, seven WIMs and 7 WFMs round of the titled players.
The tournament is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. At stake is a total of $60,000 in cash prizes.
Games start 6pm daily and are broadcast live on chess sites. Visit chess-results.com for round by round pairings and to download games.
 Erstwhile solo leader GM Ernesto Inarkiev (right) was held to a draw in round 5 by GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam. (Photo by Adeeb Zehrawi) GM Abhijeet Gupta of India
Top seed and defending champion GM Wang Hao of China
GM Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran
Inarkiev Grabs Solo Lead in 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship
GM Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia beat erstwhile co-leader Nihal Sarin of India to grab solo lead with 4 points after 4 rounds of the 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah.
Inarkiev, 33, used the Richter Rauzer attack against the Sicilian defense of Nihal. The Russian GM exploited the weakness of his opponent’s exposed King and penetrated with Queen, Rook and Knight to force resignation on the 51st move. Inarkiev had won the 2016 European Individual championship in Kosovo.
Fourteen grandmasters follow in second slot with 3.5 points each, namely top seed and defending champion Wang Hao of China, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia, Adly Ahmed of Egypt, Abhijeet gupta and Chanda Sandipan of India, Idani Pouya, Parham Maghsoodloo and Alireza Firouja of Iran, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Alexander Zubof and Yiriy Kryvoruchko of Ukrained, Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli of Venezuela, and Le Quang Liem and Nguyen Anh Khor of Vietnam.
Wang Hao used the Nimzo Indian Defense to make short work of GM Alexander Fier of Brazil in 32 moves. Sargissian essayed the Queen’s Gambit to rout GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia in 39 moves. Fedoseev crushed the Petroff Defense of Debashis Das of India in 64 moves. Maghsoodloo used the English opening to beat GM G.A. Stany of India in 45 moves. Firouzja used the Sicilian Schevningen to win against IM Javokhir Sidarov of Uzbekistan in 48 moves.
In a spectacular game, IM Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam sacrificed the exchange on the 28th move to crush the Benoni defense of former Asian champion Surya Sekhar Ganguly of India. Nguyen followed up with a Bishop sacrifice to win the the Queen and force resignation on the 41st move.
Twenty three players are tied with 3 points each in this 9 round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 178 players from 31 countries includes 33 Grandmasters, 32 International Masters and 15 FIDE Masters. Two Woman Grandmasters, seven WIMs and 7 WFMs round of the titled players.
The tournament is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. At stake is a total of $60,000 in cash prizes with a top prize of $15,000.
Games start 6pm daily and broadcast live on chess sites. Visit chess-results.com for round by round pairings and to download games.
 GM Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia.
 GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam (right) beat GM Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli of Vietnam in round 4. (Photo by Adeeb Zehrawi)
Nihal and Four Ohers Share Lead in 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship
Sixteen year old GM Nihal Sarin of India and four others share the lead with three points each after 3 rounds of the 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah.
Nihal, one of the youngest Grandmasters in the world, shares the lead with GMs Le Quang Liem of Vietnam , Ernest Inarkiev of Russia, Alexander Fier of Brazil and Iturrizaga Bonelli Eduardo of Venezuela.
In yesterday’s third round, Nihal crushed the Sicilian defense of IM Mokhas El Adnani of Morocco, threatening unstoppable mate in 34 moves. Nihal was the 2014 World Under-10 Champion, winning the title in Durban, South Africa.
Le Quang Liem, 28, beat GM Venkatesh M.R. of India in 57 moves of a Ruy Lopez by pawn promotion in a Rook and pawn endgame. Inarkiev, 33, used the Sicilian Najdorf to turn back IM Kuybokarov Temur of Australia in a marathon 86 moves. Fier, 31, used the Gruenfeld defense and sacrificed a Bishop on the 49th move to beat Aditya Mittal of India in 73 moves. Iturrizaga Bonelli Eduardo, 29, used the Caro Kann defense and weaved a mating net to force GM Karthik Venkataraman of India to resign after 43 moves.
Thirty players are tied with 2.5 points each in this 9 round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 178 players from 31 countries includes 33 Grandmasters, 32 International Masters and 15 FIDE Masters. Two Woman Grandmasters, seven WIMs and 7 WFMs round of the titled players.
The tournament is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. At stake is a total of $60,000 in cash prizes with a top prize of $15,000.
Games start 6pm daily and broadcast live on chess sites. Visit chess-results.com round by round pairings and to download games.
 GM Nibal Sarin of India, at 16 one of the youngest Grandmasters in the world.
 GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam (left) beat GM Venkatesh M.R. of India.
14 INDIAN MASTERS SHARE LEAD IN SHARJAH INTERNATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
Former Asian Continental champion Surya Shekhar Ganguly leads the 14-man pack of Indian players sharing the lead with 17 others after two rounds of the 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah.
Ganguly used the Sicilian Defense to make short work of IM Mohammed Tissir of Morocco in 38 moves. Joining Ganguly for the early lead are compatriots GMs Abhijeet Gupta, Nihal Sarin, Chanda Sandipan, Debashis Das, Vishnu Prasanna, M.R. Venkatesh, Karthik Venkataraman, Stany G.A., Aditya Mittal , IMs Vignesh N R, Iniyan P, Praveen Kumar C and untitled Kunal M.
Other Grandmasters also with 2 points are Gabriel Sargisian of Armenia, Alexandr Fier of Brazil, Parham Maghsoodloo, Idani Pouya and Lorparizangeneh Shahin of Iran, Ernesto Inarkiev and Alexander Zubov of Russia, Iturrizaga Bonelli Eduardoof Venezuela and Le Quang Liem of Vietnam.
Top seed and defending champion Wang Hao of China was held to a draw by IM Asgarizadeh Ahmad of Iran by repetition of position in 31 moves of a Pirc Defense. Second seed GM Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia was also held to a draw by untitled Mendonca Leon Luke of India in 65 moves of a Queen’s Indian Defense.
The tournament is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
At stake is a total of $60,000 in cash prizes with a top prize of $15,000 in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 178 players from 31 countries includes 33 Grandmasters, 32 International Masters and 15 FIDE Masters. Two Woman Grandmasters, seven WIMs and 7 WFMs round of the titled players. Games start 6pm daily and broadcast live on chess sites.
 Top seed and defending champion Wang Hao of China (right) was held to a draw in round 2 by IM Asgarizadeh Ahmad of Iran. Former Asian Continental champion GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India.
FAVORITES WIN 1st ROUND OF SHARJAH MASTERS CHESS
Favorites ruled the opening of the 3rd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah as 81 players scored wins in the first round. The lone upset was by Woman Grandmaster Anastasya Paramazina of Russia over GM Sandro Mareco of Argentina.
The tournament is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Gracing the opening ceremonies were Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Sport Council, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Mualla, Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club Chairman, and Khaled Essa Al Medfaa, General Secretary Assitant for UAE public sport.
At stake is a total of $60,000 in cash prizes in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 178 players from 31 countries includes 33 Grandmasters, 32 International Masters and 15 FIDE Masters. Two Woman Grandmasters, seven WIMs and 7 WFMs round of the titled players. Indian players form the biggest contingent with 84 players followed by the UAE with 23 players.
Top seed Wang Hao of China leads with 28 other Grandmasters. Sharing early lead are 11 Indian Grandmasters and 15 Indian International Masters. IM Omar Noaman and FM Omran Al Hosaini of the UAE won their first round assignments. In the lone upset in the first round, WGM Anastasya Paramzina of Russia, rated 2196, crushed the Sicilian Defense of GM Sandro Mareco of Argentina, highly rated at 2666. Mareco had to give up a Knight on the 47th move to prevent pawn promotion. Facing mating threats he resigned on the 74th move.
Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Sport Council, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Mualla, Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club Chairman, and Khaled Essa Al Medfaa, General Secretary Assitant for UAE public sport, make the ceremonial opening moves on board one between top seed GM Wang Hao of China (left) and FM Jasem Alhuwar of the UAE.
Top boards at the opening round.
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