Sport
Sargsyan holds sole lead as top seed Erigaisi closes in
UAE’s Salem is in shared second place after he beat Iran’s Daneshvar to continue his impressive form
December 09, 2024 | 11:24 PM
Armenian GM Shant Sargsyan on Monday beat Indian GM Murali Karthikeyan to grab solo lead at the $110,00 Qatar Masters. Sargsyan has 5.5 points after the sixth round.Also on Monday, Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi staged a late rally to join a group of three players at 5 points each. Erigaisi, the top seed, beat Russia’s David Paravyan in round 6 of the FIDE tournament being held at Aspire Zone Hall. The Indian once again showcased his exceptional talent, securing a crucial victory under pressure.Monday’s hard-fought win not only propels the 21-year-old back above the coveted 2800 rating but also keeps his hopes alive in the FIDE Circuit race to overtake world number two Fabiano Caruana. The winner of the 2024 FIDE Circuit will secure a coveted spot in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. This event determines the challenger who will face the reigning World Champion in the World Championship match of 2026.Also on Monday, UAE’s top player Saleh Salem edged Iranian GM Bardiya Daneshvar to continue with his impressive form. Salem also has 5 points.Russian GM Andrey Esipenko also continued with his good form in the 10-day Doha tournament on Monday when he beat Rithvik Raja of India. Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Yakubboev, a former champion in Qatar, and India’s Karthikeyan are among a group of six with 4.5 points each.Meanwhile International Master Hussein Aziz of Qatar delighted the home camp on Monday when he recorded his first victory in the tournament after he beat Polish rival Oliwia Kiolbasa, ranked 83rd. Aziz has a tally of 2.5 points.Meanwhile Mohammed al-Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association (QCA), said that the final three rounds would ‘likely see intense competition among the competing players’.Al-Mudahka applauded the impressive performance of UAE’s Salem Abdul Rahman. "He has been a formidable force, challenging the top seeds and showcasing exceptional skill. He has played really well,” al-Mudahka said on Monday.Laurent Freyd, the tournament’s chief arbiter, echoed al-Mudahka’s excitement. Freyd said the final rounds would be a ‘tough phase for those wanting to win the title’ in Doha. "I believe that the chances to win the title are equal among 8 players. However, anything is possible. I also believe that we will witness the crowning of a new champion for this tournament, given the results recorded in the sixth round,” Freyd said.The chief arbiter concluded his statement by praising the high level of the tournament, stressing that the ‘fourth edition of Qatar Masters received great attention locally and internationally through the presence of the top ranked players’.The winner in Doha will get richer by $25,000. Previous winners include China’s Yu Yangyi (2013), Norway’s Magnus Carlsen (2015) and Uzbekistan’s Yakubbayev (2023).Key results Armenian GM Shant Sargsyan beat Indian GM Murali Karthikeyan; Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi beat Russia’s David Paravyan; UAE GM Saleh Salem beat Iran’s Bardiya Daneshvar; Russian GM Andrey Esipenko beat India’s Rithvik Raja
December 09, 2024 | 11:24 PM