Al Ain: Emirati players Grandmaster Saleh A.R. Salem and FIDE Master Saeed Ishaq scored stunning victories on the opening of the $87,000 Asian Continental Chess Championships at the Hilton Hotel in Al Ain on Sunday.
Salem crushed International Master (IM) S. Nitin of India, while Ishaq beat GM Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy of Vietnam.
Top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam was held to a draw by 22-year-old IM Haridas Pascua of the Philippines.
GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, aged 21, led the onslaught by the 19-man Indian delegation with a victory over GM Enamul Hosain of Bangladesh, while GM Gao Rui led the 13-man Chinese delegation, beating compatriot Yuan Qingyu in 33 moves.
The Chinese were stronger in the women’s division as top seed WGM Tan Zhongyi beat Le Kieu Thien Kim of Vietnam. Other leading Chinese women are IM Shen Yang, who beat Ghazal Hakimifard of Iran, WIM Zhai Mo, a winner against Akter Liza Shamima of Bangladesh, WGM Zhang Xiaowen, who beat compatriot Chu Ruotong, and WGM Wang Jue, who won over compatriot Liu Manli.
Second seed WGM Padmini Rout of India kept pace by beating WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam.
In accordance with the strict new FIDE Laws, Chief Arbiter Haroon Or Rashid of Bangladesh disqualified newcomer Houd Al Houti of Oman for inadvertently bringing his mobile phone to his game.
The top five men in Al Ain advance to the World Cup next month in Baku, Azerbaijan, while the women’s champion will represent Asia in the FIDE Women’s World Championship.
