Sharjah Masters 08: Four at the top
3/31/2017 – In round eight, the two leaders Wang Hao and Martyn Kravtsiv drew comfortably against each other, making space for more on the podium. This invitation was graciously accepted by Kryvoruchko and the irrepressible Adhiban who now also share the lead. Once more this illustrated report brings entertaining games analyzed by the players with Daniel King.
All photos by Anastasiya Karlovich
The top players of the Indian contingent chat a bit before the game
Eltaj Safarli has not had a great event so far, but does regain a bit of lost ground with this win over Valeriy Neverov. He now has 5.5/8.
Baskaran Adhiban vs Benjamin Gledura
Baskaran Adhiban is back, and takes on 17-year-old Benjamin Gledura, a Hungarian talent. He reminds Daniel King that Gledura had beaten Anand in Gibraltar in 2016, and is not to be taken lightly. Note that while he says that, he does not let go of his improvisational approach to the game, and his comments are flowing with ideas. In spite of being the penultimate round in a major Open, he retains that llight-hearted spirit that makes him such an endearing character.
Co-leaders Wang Hao and Martyn Kravtsiv drew their game without too much effort, and remain among the four leaders with 6.5/8 going into the last round.
Yuriy Kryvoruchko beat Matthias Bluebaum in round eight, and is the fourth player on 6.5/8
Vladimir Akopian vs Srinath Narayanan
A fascinating Italian played by Vladimir Akopian as he enjoys the modern trend to deviate from his lifelong Ruy Lopez. It must be noted that Akopian is Speedy Gonzales when analying out loud. He is thorough though.
Untitled Chinese player, Xu Yinglun, rated 2540, has performed superbly and has a 2620 performance with 6.0/8
13-year-old Abdusattorov has a 2500 performance thus far, and will face Venezuelan GM Iturrizaga in the final round
Deepan Chakkravarthy vs Saleh Salem
Once again, Salem Saleh is the flavor of the day, this time against 30-year-old GM Chakkravarthy from India. The game is a classic Sicilian (not to be confused with Classical Sicilian) with a pawn roller in the center and kingside. Salem's comments and ideas in the game show what an imaginative strategist he is, and it is a pleasure to watch him in action.
WGM Mary Ann Gomes from India beat GM Babu Lalith in round eight, and has 5.0/8
Yuriy Kuzubov from Ukraine had a great first half, but a less stellar second half and is at 5.5/8
Standings after eight rounds
|
Rk |
SNo |
Ti. |
Name |
FED |
Rtg |
Pts |
TB |
rtg+/- |
| 1 | 5 | GM | Wang Hao | CHN | 2683 | 6,5 | 37,5 | 11,7 |
| 2 | 6 | GM | Adhiban B. | IND | 2682 | 6,5 | 34,5 | 10,5 |
| 3 | 2 | GM | Kryvoruchko Yuriy | UKR | 2708 | 6,5 | 33,0 | 4,8 |
| 4 | 21 | GM | Kravtsiv Martyn | UKR | 2641 | 6,5 | 32,5 | 13,5 |
| 5 | 4 | GM | Naiditsch Arkadij | AZE | 2702 | 6,0 | 36,5 | -0,2 |
| 6 | 16 | GM | Fressinet Laurent | FRA | 2662 | 6,0 | 35,0 | 3,8 |
| 7 | 17 | GM | Amin Bassem | EGY | 2660 | 6,0 | 34,5 | 5,1 |
| 8 | 11 | GM | Akopian Vladimir | ARM | 2675 | 6,0 | 34,5 | 0,3 |
| 9 | 23 | GM | Sethuraman S.P. | IND | 2629 | 6,0 | 33,5 | 5,0 |
| 45 | GM | Pichot Alan | ARG | 2556 | 6,0 | 33,5 | 6,7 | |
| 11 | 1 | GM | Wojtaszek Radoslaw | POL | 2745 | 6,0 | 33,5 | -2,9 |
| 12 | 47 | Xu Yinglun | CHN | 2540 | 6,0 | 32,5 | 12,5 | |
| 13 | 15 | GM | Mareco Sandro | ARG | 2664 | 6,0 | 31,5 | 0,6 |
| 14 | 36 | GM | Maghsoodloo Parham | IRI | 2576 | 6,0 | 31,5 | 8,7 |
| 15 | 7 | GM | Areshchenko Alexander | UKR | 2682 | 6,0 | 31,5 | -0,6 |
| 16 | 18 | GM | Salem A.R. Saleh | UAE | 2652 | 6,0 | 30,0 | -7,3 |
| 17 | 10 | GM | Jones Gawain C B | ENG | 2676 | 5,5 | 35,5 | -1,6 |
| 18 | 12 | GM | Iturrizaga Bonelli Eduardo | VEN | 2673 | 5,5 | 34,5 | -6,3 |
| 19 | 28 | GM | Adly Ahmed | EGY | 2593 | 5,5 | 34,0 | 4,4 |
| 20 | 31 | GM | Gledura Benjamin | HUN | 2588 | 5,5 | 33,5 | 3,8 |
| 21 | 35 | GM | Idani Pouya | IRI | 2576 | 5,5 | 33,0 | 3,4 |
| 22 | 50 | GM | Sunilduth Lyna Narayanan | IND | 2526 | 5,5 | 33,0 | 5,8 |
| 23 | 19 | GM | Kuzubov Yuriy | UKR | 2643 | 5,5 | 33,0 | -7,4 |
| 24 | 22 | GM | Bluebaum Matthias | GER | 2632 | 5,5 | 32,5 | -3,1 |
| 25 | 80 | GM | Laxman R.R. | IND | 2403 | 5,5 | 32,5 | 22,6 |
| 26 | 8 | GM | Safarli Eltaj | AZE | 2680 | 5,5 | 32,0 | -10,7 |
| 27 | 13 | GM | Sargissian Gabriel | ARM | 2666 | 5,5 | 32,0 | -8,1 |
| 28 | 54 | IM | Xu Xiangyu | CHN | 2503 | 5,5 | 31,5 | 9,2 |
| 72 | FM | Abdusattorov Nodirbek | UZB | 2429 | 5,5 | 31,5 | 8,6 | |
| 30 | 20 | GM | Oleksiyenko Mykhaylo | UKR | 2643 | 5,5 | 31,5 | -8,3 |
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