Tribune News Network
Doha
Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi of India settled for a draw against Kazakh Murtas Kazhgaleyev in the second round of the Qatar Masters Open 2024 at the Aspire Zone Hall on Wednesday while defending champion GM Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan bounced back with a win against Scot FIDE Master Murad Abdulla.
The draw against 701-ranked player placed the World No. 4 Erigaisi outside the top 20.
While Erigaisi was the only player among the top 5 to secure a win in the opening round, Iranian GM M Amin Tabatabaei became the only top-five player to win on the second day. He beat Mongolian IM Ganzorig Amartuvshin.
Meanwhile, Yakubboev’s Uzbek compatriot, last year’s runner-up and World No. 6 Nodirbek Abdusattorov drew with Oman’s Omran Al Hosani.
No.3 seed GM Parham Maghsoodloo was held again, for a second time, by Iranian compatriot Artin Ashraf, while Vladislav Artenmiev, the No.4 seed, was drew with WIM Afruza Khamdamova of Uzbekistan, who is significantly lower ranked than the Russian GM.
Qatar’s IM Husain Aziz lost to Uzbekistan’s Abdulmalik Abdisalimov, while Iranian player Medhiavi Reza, ranked 71st, topped the standings with two points after defeating Mexico’s 36th-seeded Galvez Medina Sun.
India’s No.73 seed IM Vantika Agarwal held No.12 seeded GM Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen of Vietnam, continuing her impressive showing after she had drawn against GM Vladislav Artemiev on the opening day.
The second day of the prestigious championship began with Qatar Chess Association President Mohammed Al Mudahka along with Qatar school students making the ceremonial first move on Board 1 to start the match between Erigaisi and Kazhgaleyev.
QCA’s Executive Director and Championship Director Hamad Al Tamimi expressed his delight at the high-caliber participation in the fourth edition of the prestigious event, highlighting the presence of 50 international grandmasters and major title holders.
Al Tamimi praised the efforts of the Ministry of Sports and Youth in ensuring the championship’s organisational success and highlighted the educational collaboration with the Ministry of Education to involve school visits as part of a broader ‘Chess in Schools’ initiative.
Ghada Al Khalifi, a member of the organizing committee, also underlined the importance of the event in providing Qatari players with opportunities to compete against a diverse array of opponents, gaining valuable experience.
In the B Chess Championship which is run in parallel to the main event, saw Qatar’s Ahmed Saif defeating India’s Nair Shrisht, Fahd Al Mansoori securing a win over India’s Rishi Gancherathinam, and Khaled Al Jamaat overcoming Egypt’s Safwat Tarek Mostafa.
