Three tie for lead in Sharjah Masters

sharjah — Grandmasters S. P. Sethurman of India, Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan and Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran share the lead after four rounds of the 2nd Sharjah Masters Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah, UAE.

Sethuraman, 25, beat compatriots GM Abhimanyu Puranik in the other day’s morning round and then checkmated GM Prasanna Vishnu in the afternoon to tally 4 points out of as many rounds. Sethuraman was Asian Continental champion in 2016.

Sarfli, 25, two-time Azerbaijan champion, beat FM Arjun Enigaisi of India in Round 3 and outmaneuvered GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan in 41 moves of a Ruy Lopez in Round 4 to tie for the lead.

Maghsoodloo, 17, reigning Iranian champion, ended the winning streak of woman giant killer Nutakki Priyanka of India then beat GM Vladislav Artemiev of Russia to keep pace with the lead pack.

Top seed Wang Hao of China and Eduardo Iturrizaga Benelli of Venezuela drew with each other to trail a half point behind the leaders with 3.5 points together with GMs B. Adhiban of India, Vladislav Kovalev of Belarus, Tigran Petrosian of Armenia, Nils Grandlius of Sweden and Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine.

A total of 118 players from 26 countries are seeing action including 31 Grandmasters and 14 International Masters, 2 Woman Grandmasters, 3 Woman International Masters and 10 FIDE Masters.

Over $57,000 in cash prizes, with a top prize of $15,000, are at stake in the 9-round tournament held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.