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.

Watch live games on Chess.com and Lichess for men and for women and Chessbase (Men) and Chessbase (Women).

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

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.

Watch live games on Chess.com and Lichess for men and for women and Chessbase (Men) and Chessbase (Women).

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

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).

Watch live games on Chess.com and Lichess for men and for women and Chessbase (Men) and Chessbase (Women).

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

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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Denis Kraev, chairman of the Intellectual Chess Academy of Russia, makes the ceremonial opening moves of the Asian Individual Chess Championship starting 7th May 2025 in Al Ain, UAE together with, from left, IM Sami Khader of the Organizing Committee, Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher of the UAE, Technical Delegate WGM Gulmira Dauletova of Kazakhstan and IA Husan Turdialiev of Uzbekistan. (Photos by Hossam El Baz)

An impressive roster of 51 top Grandmasters, 54 International Masters and 21 FIDE Masters in a field of 156 men from 33 countries. In the women’s division two GMs, 19 WGMs, 13 WIMs and 21 WIMs and 17 WFMs are competing for two slots in the FIDE Women’s World Cup.

The tournament is organized by the Al Ain Mind Games and Chess Club under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE. A total of $80,000 in cash prizes are at stake for the standard and blitz championships.

The ballroom of the 5-star Danat Al Ain Resort Hotel is the venue for the tournament. Above is the men’s division.

Watch live games on Chess.com and Lichess

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

Technical Delegate WGM Gulmira Dauletova of kazakhstan makes the ceremonial move on the women’s top board of the Asian Individual Chess Championships on 7th May 2025  assisted by, from left, IM Sami Khader of the Organizing Committee, Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher of the UAE, Denis Kraev of the ntellectual Chess Academy of Russia and IA Husan Turdialiev of Uzbekistan.

The women’s division in the Danat Al Ain Resort Hotel.

Abdullah bin Khalid Al Khalifa Center for Parental Care held the closing ceremony of the second edition of the Championship of His Excellency Field Marshal Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Commander of the Bahrain Defense Force, at the Royal Hall in the Al-Hekma Society for Retirees building.

The championship was attended by His Excellency Major General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Deputy of the Field Marshal, Lieutenant General Abdullah Hassan Al Nuaimi, Bahrain Chess Federation President Mr. Anmar Ahmadi along with several dignitaries, members of the board of directors, and the Deputy Chairman of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation.

The tournament was organized by the Bahrain Chess Federation 21st to 27th April 2025 in Manama, Bahrain. More than fifty professional and amateur players—citizens and residents of various nationalities—participated in the tournament, including a strong showing from individuals with disabilities.

Bobby Sekhar Pranav of India and IM Mohamed Tissir of Morocco tied for first with six points each but Pranav prevailed by Direct Encounter tie break. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results.

This internationally ranked tournament featured prize money exceeding 5,000 Bahraini Dinars. The matches were held under the supervision of officials and referees from the Bahrain Chess Federation and continued late into the night in a highly competitive atmosphere.

GM Tin Jingyao of Singapore (third from left) and IM Uurtsaikh Agibileg of Mongolia (second from right) drew their last round game to finish 1st and 2nd respectively with equal 7 points and clinch the two slots into the FIDE World Cup.

GM Tin Jingyao of Singapore

The Zone 3.3 Zonal Championship was organized by the Mongolian Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE from 22 April to 2 May 2025 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

IM Uurtsaikh Agibileg of Mongolia

Also tied with 7 points but with a lower tie break was IM Sugar Gan-Erdene (above left) of Mongolia who finished third.

In the women’s division, Shafira Devi Herfesa of Indonesia (above center and below) tied with Enkh-Amgalan Enkhrii of Mongolia (left) at 7 points each but Herfesa had a better tie break to earn the slot to the FIDE Women’s World Cup.

Fifty four men from seven countries and 55 women from five countries competed in the Zonal. A total of $15,000 in cash prizes was at stake with $9,000 for men and $6,000 for women. Congratulations to the Mongolian Chess Federation for a well organized event.

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

Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (center) announces the Asian Individual Chess Championship at a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Abu Dhabi together with (from left) Omar Al Waswasi, Board Member of Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club, ACF General Secretary Hisham Al Taher, Suhail bin Abdullah Al Arifi, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abdulrahim Mahdi representing the UAE Chess Federation.

A record 250 players from 33 countries are participating in the Asian Individual Chess Championship scheduled 6-16 May 2025 at the Danat International Resort Hotel in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

This was announced by Asian Chess Federation President Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan, concurrent president of the organizing Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club.

An awesome 53 Grandmasters, 19 Woman Grandmasters, 69 IMs and 19 WIMs, 20 FMs and 19 WFMs are competing in separate divisions.

Visit chess-results.com for full list of players.

The top ten shall qualify into the FIDE World Cup. The top two women shall qualify into the FIDE Women’s World Cup.

A total of $80,000 in cash prizes are at stake for the standard and blitz championships.

Eleven men and nine women who have already qualified from the Zonals into the World Cup are joining again. Should they finish in the top ten men or top two women, the next in line shall qualify into the respective FIDE World Cups.