Nodirbek Abdusattorov wins Sharjah Masters

A number of ambitious young Grandmasters had made the trip to the Persian Gulf, including Romanian Bogdan-Daniel Deac, US Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann, Iranian Amin Tabatabaei, Russian Grandmaster Alexey Sarana, Dutchman Lucas van Foreest and the Indian aces Gukesh, Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi.

In the end, Abdusattorov, who is also a young ambitious Grandmaster, won the tournament on tiebreak. A crucial game was his win against Saleh Salem in round 7, in which the young Grandmaster from Uzbekistan demonstrated the potential of the Sicilian Paulsen-Taimanov.

After seven rounds Abdusattorov was sole leader with 6.0/7, half a point ahead of Bogdan-Daniel Deac (5.5). Five players 5.0/7 each followed, hoping to catch up. With two draws against Deac and Gupta in rounds eight and nine Abdusattorov narrowly saved his lead as his rivals took points away from each other. Only Saleh Salem, who won his two last games, managed to catch up to Abdusattorov on points.

Saleh Salem

However, the reigning World Champion in rapid chess had the better tiebreak and won the tournament. Abhijeet Gupta and Haik Martirosyan tied for third and fourth place with 6.5/9 each while Deac, Gukesh and Niemann led the group of players with 6.0/9.

Hans Moke Niemann

The results of some of the pre-tournament favourites show how strong the field was. Nihal Sarin (37th), Baskaran Adhiban (43rd) and top seed Vladimir Fedoseev (44th) only finished in the middle.

With 4.0/9 Valentina Gunina finished on place 60 and won the women's prize. Six Russian players used the chance to play a tournament outside of Russia and started under the FIDE flag.

Valentina Gunina

Final standings

...80 players

Games

Links

• Tournament page...
• Chess-results...