Mamedyarov beats Adams to share Grand Prix lead

Azerbaijani joins Vachier-Lagrave of France at the top

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan beat British grand master Michael Adams to tie top seed Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France for the lead with three points each after four rounds of the €130,000 (Dh504,358) FIDE Sharjah Grand Prix at the Sharjah Chess Club on Tuesday.

Mamedyarov, the only twotime World Junior Champion and gold-medallist at the 2012 Chess Olympiad and European Team Championships in 2009 and 2013, is fourth seed in the 18-man tournament.

The Azerbaijani used the Queen’s Gambit Declined Exchange Variation to crush Adams in 43 moves. Mamedyarov gained control of the centre and forced Adams to give up a Knight on the 23rd move. Adams resigned on the 43rd move as Mamedyarov was poised to win the Queen.

Erstwhile solo leader Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France drew with third seed Hikaru Nakamura of the United States in only 18 moves of a Sicilian Moscow variation after an exchange of Queens. Nakamura, four-time US champion, is alone in third slot with 2.5 points.