Leaders consolidate on early form
DUBAI — Iran defeated Kyrgyzstan and China overcame Vietnam to share the lead with three wins each after as many rounds in the men’s division of the Asian Nations Cup Chess Team Championship at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan hotel.
Iranian GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, Alireza Firouzja and IM Masoud Mosadeghpour beat Kyrgyz IM Asyl Abdyjapar, Tagir Taataibekov and Aidat Kenenbaev, respectively while GM Darini Pouria was held to a draw by Kyrgyz IM Semetey Tologontegin to give Iran 3.5 game points.
China won with a lower margin of 3:1 with victories by GM Bu Xiangzhi and GM Wei Yi over Vietnamese Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Dao Thien Hai, respectively. Nguyen Huyn Minh Huy and Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam held Chinese GM Wang Yue and Zhou Jianchao each to a draw.
A team earns two match points for a team victory over four boards. Game points will be used to break ties. Iran and China have 6 match points each in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. Close behind are India and Mongolia with two wins and a tie for five match points each. Six teams follow with four match points each, namely Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, UAE-1 and Iraq.
India crushed Kazakhstan 3.5-05; Mongolia beat Uzbekistan 3:1; Bangladesh smashed Sri Lanka 3:1; UAE-1 outplayed Afghanistan 3:1; Jordan whitewashed UAE-2 by 3.5-0.5; and Iraq thrashed Palestine 3.5:0.5. In other matches, Lebanon beat Nepal 3:1; Oman edged UAE-3 by 2.5-1.5; and Kuwait crushed Tajikistan 3:1.
In the women’s round robin, Vietnam and Uzbekistan share the lead with six match points each from 3 rounds. Close behind are China and India with five match points each followed by Kazakhstan with four, Mongolia and Iran with two each and scoreless Sri Lanka, UAE-1 and UAE-2.