GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran (left) crushed the French defense of GM Abhimanyu Puranik of India in 83 moves to near the title after the penultimate 8th round of the Asian Individual Chess Championship at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, UAE.

Games are broadcast live on www.chess.com and https://lichess.org/ and https://live.chessbase.com/.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings and to download games.

The top ten men shall qualify into the FIDE World Cup slated October-November this year. Here are leaders after eight rounds

In the women’s division, Bat-Erdene Mungunzul of Mongolia (left) smashed the Queen’s Gambit Declined of WGM Seshadri Srija of India in 81 moves of a King and pawn endgame.

The top two women shall qualify into the FIDE Women’s World Cup this July in Batumi, Georgia. Here are women leaders after eight rounds

Daneshvar and Mungunzul are a full point ahead of the second running rivals in their respective divisions.

GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran (right) drew wth GM Ivan Zemlyanskii (FID) to maintain solo lead with 6 points out of 7 rounds in the homestretch of the Asian Individual Chess Championship at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

In photo, Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club (ACMG) Board Member Omar Mohamed Abdulla makes the ceremonial opening moves together with, from left, Abdulrahman AlZarooni of ACMG, Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher and Organizing Committee Executive Director IM Sami Khader.

Zemlyanskii and GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan follow with 5.5 points each.

Vokhidov (right) used the Sicilian Defense to beat FM Yang Zilong of China in 45 moves.

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Thirteen players trail with 5 points each in the race for the top ten qualification slots into the FIDE World Cup and $80,000 in cash prizes for the top 15 places.

WGM Seshadri Srija of India (right) drew with compatriot IM Agrawal Vantika to tie for the lead in the women’s division. Srija and Bat-Erdene Mungunzul of Mongolia are tied at 6 points each.

Mungunzul (right) beat WGM P. V. Nandhidhaa of India in 54 moves of a Scotch Game.

Vantika, GM Valentina Gunina (FID) and IM Anastasia Bodnaruk (FID) follow with 5.5 points each. Nandhidhaa and six others trail with 5 points each in the race for the top two qualification slots into the FIDE Women’s World Cup.

Guess the Sacrifice

In the following position after 30…Qe7-d6 between GM S.P. Sethuraman of India as White and FM Imangali Akhilbay of Kazakhstan as Black, guess White’s next sacrificial move. Answer at end of this story.

In the following position after 32…Nf8 in the round 7 game between IM Jan Emmanuel of the Philippines as White and GM Abhijeet Gupta of India, Black is threatening mate. Guess White’s next two sacrificial moves.

Officials of the Asian Individual Chess Championships headed by Organizing Committee Executive Director IM Sami Khader of Jordan (seated, center).

Guess the Sacrifice

In the following round 7 game between GM S.P. Sethuraman of India as White and FM Imangali Akhilbay of Kazakhstan as Black, White played 31.Bf1xa6

In the following round 7 game between IM Jan Emmanuel of the Philippines as White and GM Abhijeet Gupta of India, Black is threatening mate. White played 33.Bxf7+! and 34.Bg8+!

Nineteen-year-old GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran and WGM Seshadri Srija of India beat their respective sixth round opponents to grab solo lead in the Men’s and Women’s divisions, respectively, in the second half of the Asian Individual Chess Championship at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

Daneshvar used the Alapin variation to crush the Sicilian defense of GM Murali Karthikeyan of India in 49 moves. The teenager leads alone with 5.5 points after six rounds.

GM Shamsiddin Vokidov (left) of Uzbekistan beat GM Aleksey Goganov (FID) in 37 moves of a Ruy Lopez game.

Games are broadcast live on www.chess.com and https://lichess.org/ and https://live.chessbase.com/.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings and to download games.

The top ten men shall qualify into the FIDE World Cup slated October-November this year. Here are leaders after six rounds:

WGM Seshadri Srija of India (left) smashed the Sicilian defense, Najdorf variation, of IM Anastasia Bodnaruk (FID) in a marathon 107 moves. Srija is alone in the lead with 5.5 points from six rounds.

IM Agrawal Vantika of India (right) used the Queen’s Gambit Declined to beat WIM Afruza Khamdamova of Uzbekistan (left) in 38 moves.

WGM P.V. Nandhidhaa of India (right) beat IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova of Uzbekistan (left) in 67 moves of a Scotch Game.

The top two women shall qualify into the FIDE Women’s World Cup this July in Batumi, Georgia. Here are women leaders after six rounds:

Guess the Sacrifice!

In the following round 6 game between GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan as White and GM Aleksey Goganov (FID) as Black, guess White’s sacrifice after 28…Rb8-b2. Answer is at the bottom of this page.

In the following round 6 game between IM Shubin, Kirill as White and FM Zia, Tahsin Tajwar as Black, guess White’s sacrifice after 34…Rc8-c6

In the following game on women’s top board between leader WGM Seshadri Srija of India as White and IM Anastasia Bodnaruk (FID), guess White’s tactical sacrifice in this position after 26…Rad8

In the following round 6 game between GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan as White and GM Aleksey Goganov (FID) as Black, after 28…Rb8-b2 White played 29.Qd3xd4

In the following round 6 game between IM Shubin, Kirill as White and FM Zia, Tahsin Tajwar as Black, White sacrificed the Queen with 35.Rf6xe6!

In the following game on women’s top board between leader WGM Seshadri Srija of India as White and IM Anastasia Bodnaruk (FID), White unleashed the tactical sacrifice 27.Nd3-e5+

Nineteen-year-old Grandmaster Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran and Grandmaster Murali Karthikeyan of India, 26, beat their respective 5^th round opponents to share the lead with 4.5 points each at the halfway mark of the Asian Individual Chess Championship at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, UAE.

Daneshvar (left) used the London System to beat GM Pa Iniyan of India (right) in 35 moves.

Karthikeyan (left) essayed the Four Knights Game to beat GM Aleksey Grebnev (right) in 49 moves of a King and pawn endgame.

Five players follow with 4 points each, namely GM M. Pranesh of India, Chinese FM Yang Zilong and untitled Jiang Haochen and GMs Sergei Lobanov and Ivan Zemlyanskii, both playing under the neutral FIDE flag.

Daneshvar and Karthikeyan face each other in the 6^th round. The tournament is a 9-round Swiss System with rounds starting 3pm daily. The event is organized by the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE.

Games are broadcast live on www.chess.com and https://lichess.org/ and https://live.chessbase.com/.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings and to download games.

The top ten men shall qualify into the FIDE World Cup scheduled October this year.. At stake are a total of $80,000 in cash prizes.

Guess the Sacrifice

In the following round 5 game between Chinese compatriots Jiang Haochen as White and GM Xu Xiangyu as Black, guess the sacrifice after 26…Rfc8? Answer at end of this story.

In the following rd5 game between GM M. Pranesh of India as White and FM Imangali Akhilbay of Kazakhstan, guess White’s sacrifice after 22…Nc6?

In the following game between IM Zhao Yuanhe as White and GM Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan as Black, guess Black’s sacrifice after 21.Bxg4

3-way Tie for Lead in Women’s Division

In the women’s division, three players share the lead with 4.5 points after five rounds, namely Woman Grandmaster Seshadri Srija of India, Bat-Erdene Mungunzul of Mongolia and IM Anastasia Bodnaruk, playing under the FIDE flag.

Srija crushed the Caro Kann defense of WGM Xeniya Balabayev of Kazakhstan in 46 moves.

Mungunzul (right) drew by repetition of position with Bodnaruk (left) in 37 moves of a Scotch Game.

Seven players trail with 4 points each, namely IM Agrawal Vantika and WGM PV Nandhidhaa of India, WIM Afruza Kahmdamova and IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova of Uzbekisan, IM Munguntuul Batkhyag of Mongolia, IM Song Yuxin of China and GM Olga Girya, playing under the FIDE flag.

The top two women shall qualify into the FIDE Women’s World Cup scheduled 5^th July in Batumi, Georgia.

Guess the Sacrifice

In the following round 5 game between Chinese compatriots Jiang Haochen as White and GM Xu Xiangyu as Black, after 26…Rfc8? White played Rd1-d8+ and Black resigned facing inevitable mate.

In the following rd5 game between GM M. Pranesh of India as White and FM Imangali Akhilbay of Kazakhstan, after 22…Nc6? Black made a double sacrifice with 23.Nxe6+ and after 23…Kg8 followed up with another sacrifice 24.Nxg7

In the following game between IM Zhao Yuanhe as White and GM Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan as Black, after 21.Bxg4 Black played 21…Bxf2+

Asian Chess Federation (ACF) president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (left) awards medals to the winners of the Asian Individual Blitz Chess Championship together with ACF General Secretary Hisham Al Taher (right). (Photo by Hossam El Baz)

Fifteen-year-old Ivan Zemlyanskii emerged undefeated to win the Asian Individual Blitz Chess Championship held 10^th May 2025 at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. The teen sensation, playing under the neutral FIDE flag, won over 30 top Grandmasters in a field of 111 players from 25 countries.

The tournament was organized by the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) and the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

Visit chess-results.com for round-by-round results and standings.

Zemlyanskii finished alone with 8 points out of 9 rounds for clear first place. He started with five wins in succession against IM G. Harshavardhan (IND), GM Nikita Matinian (FID), IM Kirill Shubin (FID), eventual runner-up GM Sina Movahed (IRI) and GM Leon Luke Mendonca (IND). After a 6^th round draw with GM M. Pranesh (IND), Zemlyanskii continued with two wins against GM Subramaniyam Bharath (IND) and IM Rudik Makarian (FID) and finished with a draw with GM Murali Karthikeyan (IND).

Fifteen-year-old Sina Movahed of Iran scored 7.5 points to finish alone in second place. IM Rudik Makarian (FID) placed third with 7 points and the better tie break over GM Karthikeyan and IM Saha Neelash of India and untitled Jiang Haochen of China.

It was a day for the youth over top Grandmasters, including renowned top seed GM Alexander Grischuk (FID) who managed only 6.5 points in the 9 round Swiss system tournament.

The victory earned Zemlyanskii $2,500 for first, $1,500 for Movahed and $1,000 for Makarian.

Asian Chess Federation (ACF) president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (left) awards medals to the winners of the Asian Individual Blitz Women’s Chess Championship together with ACF General Secretary Hisham Al Taher (right). (Photo by Hossam El Baz)

In the women’s division, WGM Alua Nurman of Kazakhstan won with 7.5 points and a better tie break over runner-up GM Valentina Gunina (FID). IM Song Yuxin of China placed third with 7 points and the better tie break over IM Rout Padmini of India and WFM Elnaz Kaliakhmet of Kazakhstan.

A field of 86 players from 20 countries participated in the blitz championship with two GMs, 15 Woman Grandmasters, 11 International Masters and 20 WIMs.

Nurman won six games in succession against compatriots WIM Ayaulym Kaldarova and WIM Assel Serikbay, WIM Sakshi Chitlange of India, Madinabonu Khalilova of Uzbekistan, GM Valentina Gunina (FID) and Bat-Erdene Mungunzul of Mongolia. Nurman drew with IM Leya Garifulina (FID). After a penultimate round loss to IM Song Yuxin of China, Nurman finished with a win over compatriot Xeniya Balabayeva.

It was a day for the youth over top Woman Grandmasters such as renowned top seed GM Katerina Lagno (FID) who managed only 6 points in the 9-round Swiss system tournament.

The victory earned Nurman $1,500 for first, $1,000 for Gunina and $500 for Song.

Four Grandmasters share the lead after four rounds of the Asian Individual Chess Championship in Al Ain, UAE. In the women’s division, two players are tied for the lead.

GMs Pa Iniyan and Murali Karthikeyan of India, GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran and GM Aleksey Grebnev, playing under the neutral FIDE flag, are tied with 3.5 points each out of four rounds of the men’s division.

Guess the Sacrifice

In the following round 4 game between GM Jagadeesh Siddharth of Singapore playing White and GM Abhimanyu Puranik of India playing Black, guess the sacrifice after 27.Bc1-e3. Answers at bottom of this page.

In the following round 4 game between GM Leon Luke Mendonca of India as White and IM Sugar Gan-Erdene of Mongolia as Black, guess Black’s sacrifice after 15.Qxb7

and the game continued with counter sacrifice after 33…Qh4-g5

Karthikeyan (right) beat GM Sina Movahed of Iran (left) in 70 moves of a Ruy Lopez game.

Grebnev, the reigning Asian Junior chess champion, used the Sicilian defense to beat International Master A.R. Ilamparthi of India in 45 moves.

Iniyan beat Meng Hiyan of China in 68 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Accepted.

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Daneshvar (right) drew with GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan (left) in 71 moves of a Ruy Lopez game.

Twenty players follow with 3 points each in the men’s division. An impressive roster of 51 top Grandmasters, 53 International Masters and 21 FIDE Masters in a field of 154 men from 33 countries are competing. The Asian Individual Championship is a qualification tournament for the FIDE World Cup into which the top ten shall qualify. At stake is a total of $80,000 in cash prizes.

Two Share Lead In Women’s Division

In the women’s division, Bat-Erdene Mungunzul of Mongolia and International Maser Anastasia Bodnaruk, playing under the neutral FIDE flag, are tied for the lead with perfect four points each after as many rounds.

Two GMs, 19 WGMs, 13 WIMs and 21 WIMs and 17 WFMs are competing in the women’s division for two slots into the FIDE Women’s World Cup.

Mungunzul (left) crushed the Nimzo Indian defense of Woman International Master Afruza Khamdamova of Uzbekistan (right) in 72 moves.

Bodnaruk (left) smashed the Sicilian Defense of GM Valentina Gunina (right), both playing under the neutral FIDE flag. In accordance with International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Chess Federation (FIDE) rulings, Russian players are competing under the neutral FIDE flag.

Three women follow with 3.5 points, namely Seshadri Srija of India, IM Song Yuan of China and WGM Xeniya Balabayeva of Kazakhstan.

Sixteen players trail with 3 points each in the race for qualification into the FIDE Women’s Wold Cup.

Answers to Guess the Sacrifice

In the following round 4 game between GM Jagadeesh Siddharth of Singapore playing White and GM Abhimanyu Puranik of India playing Black, after 27.Bc1-e3, Black played 27…Rxh4+

In the following round 4 game between GM Leon Luke Mendonca of India as White and IM Sugar Gan-Erdene of Mongolia as Black, after 15.Qxb7  Black played 15…Na6xc5

and the game continued with White counter sacrifice after 33…Qh4-g5 with 34.Nd4xf5!

Asia’s first grandmaster and World Chess Hall of Famer Eugene Torre of the Philippines makes the ceremonial move opening round 3 of the Asian Individual Chess Championship at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, UAE together with Organizing Committee Executive Director Sami Khader (center) and Deputy Chief Arbiter IA Salman Tarek Al Taher of the UAE.

GM Daneshvar of Iran (right) smashed the Petroff Defense of Mukhiddin Madaminov of Uzbekistan (left) in 39 moves to grab solo lead with 3 points in as many rounds. Fifteen players follow with 2.5 points each in the race for top ten slots into the FIDE World Cup.

In the women’s division, five women share the lead with 3 points each after as many rounds.

WIM Afruza Khamdamova of Uzbekistan (right) beat WFM Melika Mohammadi of Iran (left) to share the lead with 3 points.

GM Valentina Gunina (FID) crushed the Petroff Defense of WGM Nutakki Priynka of India in a marathon 76 moves. WIM Afruza Khamdamova of Uzbekistan drubbed the Sicilian defense of WFM Melika Mohammadi of Iran in 40 moves. IM Anastasia Bodnaruk (FID) used the King;s Indian Defense to turn back WFM Mariya Yakimova (FID) in 54 moves. WGM Seshadri Srija of India outplayed the Sicilian defense of compatriot WGM Ravi Rakshitta in 39 moves. Bat-Erdene Mungunzul of Mongolia essayed the Queen’s Pawn game to upset WGM Elena Tomilova (FID) in 37 moves.

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Regular round today 10th May starts 10am followed by the blitz championship at 17:00 HRS

Guess the Sacrifice!

In the following round 3 game between compatriots IM Abtin Atakhan and GM Sina Movahed of Iran, guess the sacrifice after 20.dxe5. Answers at the bottom of this page.

In the following game between GM Gupta Sankalp as White and IM Sanbit Panda as Black, guess the sacrifice after 26.dxe5

IM Anastasia Bodnaruk (left) beat compatriot WFM Mariya Yakimova (FID) to tie for the lead with 3 points.

In the following round 3 game between compatriots IM Abtin Atakhan and GM Sina Movahed of Iran, Black sacrificed with 20.,,Nd5-f4!

In the following game between GM Gupta Sankalp as White and IM Sanbit Panda as Black, Black sacrificed with 26…Bh6-g5!

GM Praveen Thipsay of India, Appeals Committee member, makes the ceremonial move on the women’s top board opening round 2 of the Asian Individual Chess Championship on 8th May 2025 at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Assisting are IM Sami Khader (center) and Deputy Chief Arbiter IA Salman Tarek Al Taher of the UAE (right).

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Upsets rocked the second round of the Asian Individual Chess Championship. IM A. R. Ilamparthi of India, 58th seed crushed the Sicilian defense of second seed GM M. Amin Tabatabaei of Iran in 32 moves.

IM A. R. Ilamparthi of India (left) vs. second seed GM M. Amin Tabatabaei of Iran.

Guess the Sacrifice!

In the rd2 game between IM A. R. Ilamparthi of India as White vs. GM M. Amin Tabatabaei of Iran, guess White’s sacrifice after Black’s 27… g6. Answers at end of this story.

In the rd2 game between GM Xu Xiangyu of China as White and IM Sugar Gan-Erdene, Sugar of Mongolia, guess White’s sacrifice after Black’s 26…Nd5.

I

“Three pieces can mate” as shown in this rd2 game between Afruzbek Sobirov of Uzbekistan with White and IM Pang Tao of China after  Black’s 34…g5

Here are leaders after round 2:

IM Lou Yiping of China (left) vs. GM Murali Karthikeyan of India.

GM Shamsidin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan (left) vs. IM Lev Zverev (FID)

WGM Liya Kurmangaliyeva of Kazakhstan (left) vs. IM Yuxin Song of China.

Pham, Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam (left) vs. WGM Seshadri Srija of India.

Here are women leaders after round 2:

Guess the Sacrifice!

White sacrificed the Bishop with 27.Bxg6!

White sacrificed the Queen with 27.exf6!

White opened lines by sacrificing two pawns with 35.c6+!

Favorites led the way in the opening round of the Asian Individual Chess Championship on 7th May 2025 at the Danat Resort Hotel in Al Ain, UAE

Top seed GM Sarin Nihal of India was held to a draw by IM Paulo Bersamina of the Philippines. Similarly in the women’s division, top seed IM Leya Garifulina, playing under neutral FIDE flag, was held to a draw by WIM Luong Phuong Hanh of Vietnam.

GM M. Amin Tabatabaei of Iran led 53 others in grabbing early lead. Local bet Salem A.R. Saleh (photo above) beat IM Gilbert Elroy Tarigan of Indonesia to lead the charge of UAE players. An impressive roster of 51 top Grandmasters, 53 International Masters and 21 FIDE Masters in a field of 154 men from 33 countries are competing for ten slots in the FIDE World Cup and $80,000 in cash prizes.

Watch live games on Chess.com and Lichess. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings and to download games.

Guess the Sacrifice!

Guess Black’s sacrificial move in the following game between GM Idani Pouya as White and Tan Jun Ying of Malaysia after 53.Qe4? Answers at the end of this story.

Guess White’s sacrificial move in the following game between GM Sethuraman of India as White and compatriot IM Patab Ritviz after 33…Nb7?:

In the following game between IM Lev Zverev playing White under neutral FIDE flag and Isaak Huh of Korea, guess White’s sacrifice after 45…Bd4:

WCM Zainab Darwish Almaamari of the UAE

In the women’s division, second seed GM Valentina Gunina, playing under neutral FIDE flag, beat WFM Enkh- Amgalan Enkhrii of Mongolia to share early lead with 38 other players.

Two GMs, 19 WGMs, 13 WIMs and 21 WIMs and 17 WFMs are competing for two slots in the FIDE Women’s World Cup.

In this game between GM Idani Poua of Iran and Tan Jun Ying of Malaysia, Black sealed the win with 53… Bxd5!

In the following game between GM Sethuraman of India as White and compatriot IM Patab Ritviz, White sealed the win with 34.Rxe4!

In the following game between IM Lev Zverev playing White under neutral FIDE flag and Isaak Huh of Korea, White sacrificed the exchange to open lines with 46.Rxf6!

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