Giri, Indjic share lead at 8th edition of Sharjah Masters Chess Championship
The 8th Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship, organized by the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, has reached its critical final phase with only three rounds remaining to crown the new champion.
Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri and Serbian Grandmaster Aleksandar Indjic currently share the lead with 5 points each.
The highly anticipated seventh-round matchup between the two leaders is expected to be a decisive game for the top of the standings.
Top-seeded Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov remains firmly in the hunt for the title with an impressive 4.5 points after six rounds, following a key victory that keeps him within striking distance of the leaders. The young star continues to demonstrate his consistency and competitive edge as the tournament intensifies.
Trailing just half a point behind, a tightly packed group of fourteen players are tied at 4 points, creating a highly competitive leaderboard. Among them is Emirati Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman, who delivered a vital performance in round six by defeating Sava Vetokhin, a competitor playing under the flag of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The win positions Abdulrahman well for a strong finish as the event enters its crucial stages.
Round six featured a series of significant results on the top boards that reshaped the standings. Serbian Grandmaster Indjic claimed a major victory over Chinese GM Dai Changren on board one, while Dutch superstar Giri prevailed against Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo in a tightly contested match on board two. On board three, Abdusattorov continued his push toward the top with a composed and strategic win over Indian International Master P. Iniyan.
A standout performance at the tournament continues to come from 12-year-old Argentinian chess prodigy Faustino Oro, widely hailed as the 'Messi of Chess.' The young sensation has captured the attention of the global chess community with his remarkable composure, maturity, and tactical brilliance well beyond his years.
Through six intense rounds of competition, Oro has remained unbeaten—an extraordinary feat for a player of his age competing against seasoned international masters and grandmasters. He has notched one victory and held his own in five hard-fought draws, bringing his total to 3.5 points.
While his score may appear modest amid the crowded leaderboard, the implications are historic: Oro is now just half a point away from achieving his third and final Grandmaster norm.
Should he succeed in earning that final norm over the next few rounds, Faustino Oro would become the youngest player in chess history to receive the coveted Grandmaster title, surpassing legends such as Sergey Karjakin and Magnus Carlsen. His calm presence at the board, sharp intuition, and relentless focus has made him one of the most talked-about figures in the tournament.
The sixth round was ceremonially inaugurated at the top board by Dr. Khalid Omar Al Midfa'a, Chairman of Al Thiqa Club for the Disabled, along with Omran Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee; Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi, Tournament Director; and Faisal Al Hammadi, Head of the Technical and Arbitration Committee.
Dr. Al Midfa'a expressed his pride in attending such a distinguished international event, stating, 'Sharjah has consistently demonstrated excellence in hosting world-class championships. The game of chess, the sport of intellect, enjoys exceptional support in the Emirate thanks to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi and the presence of the world's largest chess club.'
He added, 'This championship plays a vital role in elevating the level of Emirati players, enhancing their international ratings, and contributing to the overall development of our national teams. I extend my best wishes to the Sharjah Chess Club, under the leadership of Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Hamid Al Qasimi, for continued success in future editions.'
As the tournament enters its final three rounds, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to what has become one of the most competitive and internationally respected events on the global chess calendar.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
14 hours ago
- Al Etihad
World Cup qualifier: UAE out to spoil Uzbekistan's party
5 June 2025 00:04 KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)The UAE national football team is gearing up to resurrect its joint qualification campaign for both the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup when they take on Uzbekistan in a must-win Group A match at Al Wahda's Al Nahyan Stadium on Thursday (8pm kick-off).Two matches remain in this round of qualifying; two teams from each of the three groups go through automatically. Iran have already qualified from the first are in second on 17 points, needing only a point, while UAE are in third on 13 points. Cosmin Olaroiu's men need both wins – the next one is away in Kyrgyzstan five days later – and also hope Uzbekistan lose to them and Qatar Uzbekistan will hope the pressure on the UAE will make it easy for them, the hosts can only hope the nerves get the better of the Uzbeks, who are out to make history by qualifying for the Finals – in US, Canada and Mexico – for the first coaches are experienced but fairly new to the job. Olaroiu was parachuted in place of Paulo Bento after Match Day 8 while Timur Kapadze had to be brought in after Srecko Katanec asked to be relieved due to health conditions. Both leaders in the dugout will also be sizing each other up with took charge last month after fulfilling duties with Sharjah, while Kapadze came on board in February. The latter paid a visit to Abu Dhabi to check on conditions in April and has Katanec, a former UAE coach, by his side for advice.'His condition is improving and he is assisting me,' Kapadze told the media at a pre-match news conference on must have followed Olaroiu closely over the past two months, and how he sparked a revival since taking over Sharjah in 2021, a club where the Uzbek manager had a short-lived stint of six months in chose the operative word well – belief – to explain his team's approach on Wednesday, displaying a positive mindset in training in the build-up at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Al Jazira's home, down the road from the match venue.'We must believe we will be there in the finals, and we will try to take each game as a final,' said Olaroiu, who included five Sharjah players in the preliminary squad. The coach has spent 10 years in the UAE with three clubs, including Shabab Al Ahli and Al Ain. 'I know my [Sharjah] players very well but they are national players now just like everybody.'Sat by his side was the Khaled Essa, the man in the last line of defence for the Whites. 'We are closer to the World Cup than ever before, having come a long way. We must believe each... us, fans; everyone is in this together,' said the and the defenders will need to be on guard if Kapadze chooses to field Eldor Shomurodov, the AS Roma forward, who joined the squad four days history-seeking Uzbekistan won't be easy, with the White Wolves having suffered defeat only once in their qualifying campaign. The players, said defender Rustam Ashurmatov, are determined to realise the dreams of their nation. 'We give our all in every match. We go to the field only to win. I think our team is capable of this – we will win,' said Ashurmatov to the local media, who have assembled in hordes in anticipation of witnessing a historic moment materialising in the UAE capital. Kapadze, meanwhile, arrived late to the press conference and only got to answer a couple of questions as a result. It is up to Olaroiu and his men to put Uzbekistan's party on hold. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Djokovic meets Zverev in French Open quarters with unfinished business
The French Open quarter-finals continue on Wednesday with top seed Jannik Sinner in action, Novak Djokovic facing his first true test when he takes on Alexander Zverev and an all-American clash between Coco Gauff and Madison Keys. As Djokovic chases a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, 28-year-old third seed Zverev is still seeking his first major crown. Zverev has had more success at the claycourt major than any of the others, with three semi-final appearances between 2021-2023, and he reached the final last year where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz after being one set away from the title. The two have not met on clay since 2019 and Djokovic has unfinished business having retired injured last time they met in the Australian Open semi-final in January. 'He's 10 years younger, he calls himself a veteran of the game. What should I call myself, then?,' Djokovic joked after booking his quarter-final place with his 100th victory at Roland Garros. Djokovic holds an 8-5 win-loss record against Zverev, who said the Serbian — the sixth seed this year — would never be a dark horse. 'The guy won 24 Grand Slams. He's never going to be a black horse. He definitely knows how to play tennis,' Zverev said. 'He definitely knows what it means to be on the big stage and to play big matches. There is no doubt about that.' As Keys looks to stay unbeaten in Grand Slam matches this year, the Australian Open champion plays an American for the third consecutive round when she takes on Coco Gauff, a fellow major winner. Both players have won one hardcourt Grand Slam each but Gauff has started adapting to clay and shown she can be a worthy contender for the title having reached the finals in Madrid and Rome last month. 'Coco is obviously pretty dominant on clay. I would say it's probably her best surface to play on. It's obviously a big challenge,' Keys said. 'For me, it's going to be a lot about trying to balance going after things. But knowing with her ability to cover the court, you're going to have to win the point multiple times before it's actually over.' Gauff is looking to replicate her 2022 run to the final and the 21-year-old said she is now more mature. 'I'm less nervous going into matches, for sure, and knowing just the ups and downs of tennis and of a tennis match,' she said. 'I still feel the years here, I feel like I get better with each match. I felt like that was something that I did in '22 and last year as well, and something I'm doing here right now.' PUNCHING ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT: Two unseeded players remain at Roland Garros where both have delighted crowds and punched above their weight -- Alexander Bublik and local hope Lois Boisson, who is ranked world number 361. Bublik has won more claycourt matches than in his previous three years combined and the 27-year-old has earned a quarter-final match-up with top seed Jannik Sinner. In the women's draw, Boisson will hope for more than just the sparse post-lunch crowd that watched her stun world number three Jessica Pegula on Monday, when the wildcard plays sixth seed Mirra Andreeva. Kyrgios to miss Wimbledon: The 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios said Tuesday that he will miss this year's tournament and the grass-court season after 'a small setback' on his latest injury return. The 30-year-old Australian has played very little tennis over the last two years because of various injuries, notably a wrist problem that required surgery. In March at the Miami Open he won his first singles match since 2022 but he pulled out of the ongoing French Open, where he had been down to play men's doubles, with a knee injury. 'I've hit a small setback in my recovery and unfortunately won't make it back for grass season this year,' he wrote on Instagram. 'I know how much you've all been looking forward to seeing me out there and I'm genuinely sorry to disappoint.' Agencies
Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Dubai Eye
Dubai Basketball wraps up historic debut season following knockout in Belgrade
Despite taking an early lead, Dubai Basketball suffered a 114-97 defeat at the third and final game of the semi-finals at Belgrade Arena against Serbian powerhouse Partizan. Davis Bertans, Klemen Prepelić, and Nate Mason each sank three-pointers within the first four minutes giving Dubai Basketball an early lead, but by the end of the first quarter, Dubai had stormed ahead with a commanding nine-point lead. However, the momentum began to shift in the second quarter. With the backing of a packed home crowd, Partizan tightened their defence and gradually closed the gap, reducing Dubai's lead to just a single point by the end of the third quarter. As the game progressed into the third and fourth quarters, Partizan demonstrated why they are seven-time ABA League champions. Although they surged ahead, Dubai refused to go down without a fight, repeatedly equalising the score and keeping the contest wide open. In the final quarter, Partizan pulled away, scoring an impressive 28 points that widened the gap to 17 and ultimately secured their place in the finals. Dubai, however, walked away with their heads held high, having challenged one of Europe's top basketball teams to the very end. "Throughout the season, we played good basketball. We claimed major wins – including victories over some of the league's giants – and today, we pushed Partizan into a serious battle for a place in the finals," said Dubai Basketball's head coach Jurica Golemac. This season has been nothing short of historic for the first-ever sports club in the country representing the city of Dubai. It has laid the foundation for a legacy in the making, one that is not only transforming the sporting landscape in the country but also supporting the region's presence on the global basketball stage. Dubai Basketball officially set out on their journey in the Adriatic League in September – competing against some of the most prolific teams in Europe. From beating reigning champions Red Star in their opening game to being one of the only teams in the league to beat Partizan twice in their home court, the 2024/25 season was packed with milestones. Reflecting on the season, Golemac said: "We must be satisfied. This was our first season, with 13 new players in total. We were fortunate to have selected not only top-quality athletes but also exceptional people who made this journey smoother." He added that "plans for the future are already underway. In fact, they've been in motion throughout the season. Analysis, planning – it all continues. As they say, the off-season begins tomorrow, and so does our preparation for what comes next". Dubai Basketball's debut has shown that a newly established team can rise to challenge Europe's elite — creating something monumental for the sport, not just in the country, but across the Middle East.
