Abu Dhabi: Grand Masters Ehsan Ghaem Moghami of Iran and Sergey Kayumov from Uzbekistan shared the lead of the Open Masters chess championship in the ongoing 16th Armed Forces Officers Club (AFOC) Ramadan Festival with 5.5 points each from six rounds.
Kayumov won all his three matches played on Monday, beating UAE’s Omar Numan, Hani Al Sharif from Syria and Filipino Villadelgado Joemare, while Ghaem Moghami drew with Egyptian IM Fouad Al Taher then defeated UAE’s Ebrahim Khory and Romanian IM Garbea Bogdan.
Five players are hot on the heels of the leaders with Khory and Al Taher leading the pack with five points each together with Bogdan and UAEs Faisal Kishwani and Indian Juhny Bi.
Sisters Aysha and Kholood Al Zarouni continued to lead the ladies’ competition with 4.5 points each after their draw in the fifth round late on Monday. Kholood defeated Huda Al Najjar from Syria and then won her match against Indian Anchal Gupta, while her sister Aysha defeated her compatriot Al Bandari Al Rashdi and Egyptian Clara Wejeeh before settling for a draw with her sister.
UAE’s Saif Idris Al Hamed and Egyptian Andre Naji shared the lead in the under-14 category with 4.5 points each after their tie in the fifth round.
In shooting, the UAE’s Fatima Mohammad Al Hammadi led the women 9mm pistol competition for 15 metres with 96 points followed by Suhair Subait Al Balloushi with 95. Maryam Ali Al Rashdi, Fatima Mohammad Al Ymahi, Muneera Al Hammadi, Muhra Ahmad and Aisha Habroosh follow with 94 each.
The football competition will, meanwhile commence, tonight after the draw for both the men and women’s competitions was conducted on Monday night. In the five-a-side men’s competition, Land Forces will face Zadco while the Stars will take on Blugrana in the first group, while in the second group, Higher Education will play against Adma and the Air Forces meet Ammroc.
In the women’s competition, Thailand will play against Abu Dhabi Club (B) and the Stars will face Al Reem in Group A while in Group B, International Group will play against Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Club (A) will face Al Ittihad.
