On Sunday, May 29, 2022, the curtain fell on the 5th Sharjah International Chess Championship 2022, organised by the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The Masters event brought together 80 players representing 48 countries competing for the prizes totalling $6000.
The second edition of Sharjah Challengers International Chess Championship 2022 was held alongside the Masters and attracted 56 international players.
The talented Uzbek GM Nodiberk Abdusattorov (pictured right) won the title of the 5th Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship 2022 after scoring 7 points out of 9 games. The champion completed the event unbeaten and picked up 19 rating points.
A member of the UAE National Team and the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, the Golden boy Salem Abdel Rahman netted an equal amount of points but took 2nd place as he had lost the direct encounter. Salem pulled off a tough victory in his last round against his stubborn Romanian rival, GM Daniel-Bogdan Deac. After a series of impressive results, Salem increased his international ranking by 18 points, reaching his career-high, and now is ready to cross the 2700-barrier (his live rating is 2697).
GMs Abhijit Gupta of India and Hayk Martirosyan from Armenia tied for the third position, with the former having a slightly better Buchholz. Six players shared the fifth place. Fifteen best finishers received money prizes.
Final standings 5th Sharjah Masters:
|
1 |
GM |
Abdusattorov, Nodirbek |
UZB |
2661 |
7 |
|
2 |
GM |
Salem, A.R. Saleh |
UAE |
2690 |
7 |
|
3 |
GM |
Gupta, Abhijeet |
IND |
2606 |
6½ |
|
4 |
GM |
Martirosyan, Haik M. |
ARM |
2652 |
6½ |
|
5 |
GM |
Deac, Bogdan-Daniel |
ROU |
2671 |
6 |
|
6 |
GM |
Gukesh D |
IND |
2659 |
6 |
|
7 |
GM |
Niemann, Hans Moke |
USA |
2656 |
6 |
|
8 |
GM |
Chigaev Maksim |
FID |
2631 |
6 |
|
9 |
GM |
Erigaisi, Arjun |
IND |
2675 |
6 |
|
10 |
GM |
Sargissian, Gabriel |
ARM |
2694 |
6 |
|
11 |
GM |
Sethuraman S.P. |
IND |
2613 |
5½ |
|
12 |
GM |
Tabatabaei, M. Amin |
IRI |
2650 |
5½ |
|
13 |
GM |
Sargsyan, Shant |
ARM |
2641 |
5½ |
|
14 |
GM |
Sindarov, Javokhir |
UZB |
2609 |
5½ |
|
15 |
GM |
Yilmaz, Mustafa |
TUR |
2631 |
5½ |
IM Mohsen Elgabry from Egypt came out on top in the Challengers event with an excellent score of 7½/9. Ibrahim Sultan, a player of the Dubai Chess & Culture Club, finished second, a half-point behind the winner, after making a draw in the last round with John Calvin Klaasen from South Africa. Ahmed Al-Khatib of Iordania scored a very important last-round victory and took third prize. Lile Koridze of Georgia is fourth, Sona Assatryan from Armenia ended up fifth in the final standings. Shakhnoza Sabirova of Uzbekistan closed on the top-six prize winners.
During the closing ceremony the winners were honoured by the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Abdul Rahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Office of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President, His Excellency Sheikh Saud bin Abdul Aziz Almualla, President of the Arab Chess Federation and Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, Issa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, among other authorities.
Official website: shjchessmasters.com/
Photo: Sharjah Masters
