UAE's Saleh, India's Gupta and Sandipan on a roll in chess festival

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UAEs Saleh, Indias Gupta and Sandipan on a roll in chess festival

Abu Dhabi - Forty nine grandmasters, four Woman Grandmasters, 15 International Masters and four WIMs were seeing in action in Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival Masters Tournaments.

By KT Report

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Published: Wed 26 Aug 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Wed 26 Aug 2015, 6:37 PM

Recently crowned Asian champion Saleh Abdul Rahman Salem of the UAE and Grandmasters Abhijeet Gupta and Chanda Sandipan of India held the ground for Asian grandmasters against a strong European contingent as 19 players shared the early lead with perfect scores after two rounds of the 22nd Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival Masters Tournaments in Abu Dhabi.
Forty nine grandmasters, four Woman Grandmasters, 15 International Masters and four WIMs were seeing in action in one of the strongest international chess tournaments in the world with over 22 players rated over 2600.
Some 125 players from 35 countries are competing for the top prize of $12,000 out of a total of $33,600 for the Masters tournament.
Salem used the Sicilian Najdorf to beat WGM Vita Kryvoruchko in 53 moves.
Gupta essayed the King's Indian defence to make short work of GM Attila Czebe of Hungary in 32 moves.
Sandipan crushed the Semi Slav defence of Ibrahim Sultan of the UAE in 45 moves.
Among the favourites rated above 2600, tied at 2 points each are GMs Darius Swiercz of Poland, Gabor Papp of Hungary, Baadur Jobava of Georgia, Yuri Vovk of Ukraine, Nils Grandelius of Sweden, Aleksandr Rakhmanov of Russia and Yuriy Kryvoruchko of Ukraine.
There were upsets in the second round as 22-year-old International Master Haridas Pascua of the Philippines beat GM Tigran Petrosian of Armenia, rated 2623.
Pascua countered the Slav defence of Petrosian, penetrated the seventh rank and in the Rook and Pawn endgame promoted his pawn to Queen and forced resignation on the 55th move.
Also tied at 2 points each are Pascua, Artyom Timofeev, Evgeny Romanov and Vladimir Belous of Russia, Kaido Kulaots of Estonia, Jahongir Vakhidov of Uzbekistan, Martyn Kravtsiv and Yuriy Kryvoruchko of Ukraine, Hovhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia and Baris Esen of Turkey.
The Masters tournament is open to players rated 2000 and above, with the exception of Abu Dhabi players. A number of events are being held concurrently.
The Open tournament is for players rated 2000 and below while the Juniors tournament is for players under 16 years of age and played with a faster time control.
The top four players from each age group qualify for the knockout finals. There will also be a blitz tournament, a simultaneous exhibition and Homeland Protectors tournament for members of the military and police.
Completing the festival is a family team tournament of player and parent.
Games start at 6pm at the Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche.
In the open section, 178 players from 25 countries are competing. In the juniors tournament, there are 131 players from 22 countries. The Festival offers a total of $56,650 in cash prizes for eleven events.


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