Four strong grandmasters are participating in a peculiar tournament organized by the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club. The Alef Super Stars is a multi-format event consisting of classical, rapid and blitz competitions. For the classical and blitz sections, the players face each other twice, while in blitz they play three times against each other.
Naturally, points are awarded differently in each format:
The rating average of the four participants amounts to a very respectable 2688. The experienced Yu Yangyi (29 years old), Sanan Sjugirov (30) and Saleh Salem (30) are joined by 19-year-old Indian prodigy Nihal Sarin in the event with a US$ 15,000 prize fund (the winner will take home US$ 6,000).
All four players belong to the sometimes neglected group of very strong grandmasters (nearing the 2700 rating mark) which rarely get invitations to participate in closed events.
Also remarkable is the fact that the organizers have invited foreign players from three different countries to face local hero Salem, the rating underdog in the field. While Yu and Nihal are household names in China and India respectively, the Russian-born Sjugirov has been representing Hungary since August 2023.
The action kicks off daily at 16.30 local time (13.30 CET, 7.30 ET).
Spectators following the games outside the playing hall | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy
Three out of the first six classical games played in Sharjah had decisive results. Yu, the rating favourite, defeated Sjugirov and Salem, both with white, while Nihal got the better of Salem, also with white, in the first round.
Nihal’s beat Salem in their first-ever classical-chess confrontation (Nihal had won twice in rated blitz games). Salem’s 14...d5 was a costly mistake.
The only way to defend the isolated d-pawn is with the ugly-looking 14...Ne8. Understandably, Salem rejected playing this move, but his 14...d5 nonetheless turned out to increase White’s advantage (giving up the pawn via 14...a6 or 14...Qa5 were better alternatives).
Nihal grabbed the pawn with 15.exd5, getting a strong central passer.
When Black resigned 14 moves later, that very pawn remained on the board, creating a strong outpost (to say the least) for the dark-squared bishop.
Nihal Sarin and Saleh Salem | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy
Chess enthusiasts witnessing Saleh Salem and Sanan Sjugirov analysing their round-2 game | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy
A tour of the playing venue
Nihal Sarin v Saleh Salem — commentary by IM Sagar Shah
Intense post-game analysis
