Asian Zone 3.1 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship

Favorites Win in Opening Round

Top players from eight countries are cometing in the FIDE Middle East Zone 3.1 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship on Tornelo, namely Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Palestine, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

Watch games live in chessbomb,  chess.com,  followchess,  chess24 and chessbase. Visit chess-results.com to download games and for round by round results and standings. Follow Asian Chess Federation on twitter @Asianchess.

In the opening round on 1st June, top seed GM Idani Pouya of Iran (photo above) used the Nimzovitch-Rossolimo Attack against the Sicilian Defense of Aram Chekh Adm Khedr of Syria. Pouya distracted his opponent with preventing pawn promotion on the queenside to weave a mating net on the kingside and force resignation on the 42^nd move.

Front and rear views of the playing venue at the Iran Chess Federation headquarters in Tehran.

Second seed GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran accepted the Queen’s Gambit of Namir Mohammed Ismael of Iraq and maneuvered in the Queen and Rook endgame to emerge 2 pawns up and force resignation in 56 moves.

Panoramic view of the Iraq playing venue in Baghdad.

GM Aryan Gholami of Iran essayed the Reti opening against Ibrahim Sultan of the UAE, transposing into a Queen’s Bishop Game. The Iranian sacrificed a Bishop on the 12^th move and Sultan resigned on the following move.

Panoramic view of the playing venue in Palestine,

IM Bashir Eiti of Syria used the Center Counter Defense against FM Salim Mohammed Salim Al Amri of Oman. The Syrian won a Rook for Knight exchange on the 36^th move and delivered checkmate three moves later.