The leaderboard began to shape up after the 6th round of the 2023 World Amateur Chess Championship, organized by the Omani Chess Committee in cooperation with FIDE. Round 6 had several surprises in store – pleasant and unpleasant, wins, losses, draws and missed opportunities, in intense and exciting clashes between players from all over the world. The top of the standings has been formed in all the categories to some extent, but with three rounds to go, it is still wide open.

The ceremonial first move of Round 6 was made under the patronage of His Excellency Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Hamidi, the Mayor of Muscat, at the main hall of the Sultan Qaboos Complex in Bowsher.

Kazakhstani player Abilmansur Abdilkhair confidently leads the under-2300 category thanks to a sixth consecutive win, this time against Indian Indrajeet Mahindrakar, in a game that lasted over three hours. Abdilkhair enjoys a perfect 6/6 score, while Victor Arce Benito from Spain is in second place, one point behind.

In the under-2000 category, Dashtogtokh Amarsaikhan of Mongolia defeated R Sham from India in a closely contested game and emerged as the sole leader with 6 points, one point ahead of the closest pursuer, Indora Punit (India).

We finally have the sole leader in the Under-1700 category. Aleksandr Martynov (pictured above) claimed the top position after beating his main rival, Hamed Imani Lasaki (Sweden), with the white pieces. With this win, Martynov kept his 100% score (6 points) and pulled away from the pack, led by the Mongolian player Ganbat Danzanjunai with 5.5 points.

In the women’s under-1700 category, Mongolian Bat-Amgalan Anujin prevailed over Binoj Shybi (FIDE) in a remarkable tactical clash, notching up her sixth straight win and consolidated her first place in the standings, a full point ahead of her teammate Baldanjantsan Khuslenzaya.

Text: WACC 2023 media team

Photos: Entisar Nasser Al-omiiri, Hamed Al-Mabsali, Abduallah Al-Rashdi, Salma Hamood, Salem Al-Salhi

Official website: worldamateur2023.fide.com/

Results and standings: worldamateur2023.fide.com/result/

Results of the rounds: https://worldamateur2023.fide.com/result/

Live games:

Open U-2300
chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/fide-world-amateur-championship-2023-u2300#live

Open U-2000: 
chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/fide-world-amateur-championship-2023-u2000#live

Open U-1700: 
chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/fide-world-amateur-championship-2023-u1700#live

Women U-1700 
https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/fide-world-amateur-championship-2023-w1700#live

Live broadcast (English/Arabic): youtube.com/@Omanchesscommitteeoman

About 2023 World Amateur Chess Championship

FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship 2023 is organized by the Omani Chess Committee together with the International Chess Federation, with the financial support of Gold sponsors: Syool, Apollo Hospitals, Oman LNG. Bank Muscat, Otaxi, Oronamin C Drink as well as Diamond sponsors: Asyad, OMIFCO, and Oman Airport.