Grandmaster Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran, who arrived in Dubai only for the one day blitz tournament and returned to Iran immediately after, won the ENOC Cup in the $4,000 Dubai Blitz tournament last Friday at the Dubai Culture and Chess Club in Dubai. He beat Zaben Andriasian of Armenia in the sudden death playoff. Each won $900, sharing first prize.

Anbdriasian and Ghaem Maghami finished with 7.5 points each. Other placers Winning $500 each with 7 points apiece are GMs Karen Grigoryan of Armenia, R. R. Laxmanm of India, Samuel Ter Sahakyan of Armenia and David Arutinian of Georgia.

A total of 84 players from 24 countries competed in the 9 round Swiss including 22 GMs. See the report in chess-results.com. See the vide on youtube.

Ghaem beat Rolenson Loyola of the Philippineas, Vishinu Prasanna of Indiam, Gevorg Harutiuinyan of Armenia, Mikhreil Mchedlishvili of Georgia, lost to Murtas Kazhgaleyev of Kazakhstan, beat Orkhan Abduloi of Azerbaiujan, beat R.R, Laxman of India, besteed young Salem A.R, Saleh of UAE and drew with co-leader Zaven Andriassian if Armenia. In the sudden death playoff Ghaem won with four minutes against five minutes of Andriassian.

In photo, Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (right) and Zaven Andriassan before the sudden death playoff. Looking are, from left, Dubai Chess Club Executive Director Mohammed Husseini, Chief Arbiter Casto Abundo and Deputy Arbiter Mahdi Abdulrahim.

The ENOC cup shall be awarded at the closing ceremonies of the Dubai Open.