Dubai: Two-time Armenian champion GM Vladimir Akopian and GM Ivan Sokolov of The Netherlands remain tied at 5.5 points each after six rounds of the Dubai Open Chess Championship at the Dubai Chess Club.
Two rounds were played on Saturday after the rest day on Friday. In the morning round, Akopian beat three-time British champion David Howell. The Armenian made a positional sacrifice of a Knight to keep his opponent’s king exposed in the centre. Akopian advanced his centre pawns to threaten promotion and forced resignation on the 49th move.
In the evening, Akopian drew wiith GM S. P. Sethuraman of India in an opposite coloured Bishop ending after 31 moves of a Ruy Lopez game.
The truce allowed GM Ivan Sokolov of The Netherlands, a coach in the UAE, to tie for the lead. In the 5th round, Sokolov punished GM Zaur Mammadov of Azerbaijan for his Queen foray to the outer edge by opening the centre. The Dutchman sacrificed the exchange to penetrate with his Queen and force resignation on the 30th move.
In another round, Sokolov crushed the Gruenfeld Defense of GM Alexandr Fier of Brazil in 63 moves of a rook and pawn endgame.
Sethuraman and three other Indians are among eight players who follow with five points each, namely GM B. Adhiban, IM M.S. Thejkumar and IM Shardul Gagare. Sharing 3rd to 11th slots are GMs Boris Savchenko of Russia, Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan, Levan Pantulaia of Georgia, Gawain Jones of England and Pouria Arini of Iran.
Mammadov, Fier and 11 others are bunched together with 4.5 points each with three more rounds to go. Games are scheduled 5:30 daily and are broadcast live on www.dubaichess.ae, site of the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.
A record 189 players from 37 countries are competing in the 9-round Swiss System tournament. A strong field of 46 Grandmasters, 8 Woman Grandmasters, 39 International Masters, 5 Woman International Masters, 22 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman Fide Masters are participating. Top prize is $13,000 (Dh47,748) out of a total of $50,000 in cash prizes up to 15th place with special prizes for best in category.
