Russian GM Andrey Esipenko yesterday beat Armenia’s Shant Sargsyan to go into today’s final round of $110,000 Qatar Masters needing just a draw to win the title.
The 22-year-old Esipenko has 7 points to be just ahead of top seed and second-placed Arjun Erigaisi of India who has 6.5 points. Erigaisi, 21, yesterday beat compatriot Murali Karthikeyan on the penultimate day of the FIDE tournament.
Today the battle for the title will be between Esipenko and Erigaisi.
Sargsyan is one of four players on 6 points along with UAE’s Saleh Salem, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov and India’s Leon Luke Mendonca.
Yesterday Abdusattorov beat Russia’s David Paravyan while Mendonca proved too wily for Lorenzo Lodici of Italy. UAE’s Salem, who has enjoyed a good run at the Doha tournament, yesterday beat Mukhiddin Madaminov of Uzbekistan.
Erigaisi yesterday said: “I have had a tough time here in the previous two rounds but I am determined to climb the rankings further after the final round.
Erigaisi, the 16th player in history to breach the 2800 Elo rating barrier, said the unpredictability of the final round was ‘due to the close competition among the top five players’.
“I’m pleased with my performance so far, and I hope luck will be on my side tomorrow,” Erigaisi said yesterday. “I’ll strive to put in my best effort to win the final match,” he added.
The Indian chess star praised ‘the excellent organisational setup at the Aspire Zone Hall’. He expressed his delight at
participating in the fourth edition of the Qatar Masters.
Victor Bologan, the head of coaches at the Qatar Chess Association (QCA), yesterday said: “The Qatar Masters has become one of the strongest open tournaments around the world. We see so many top ranked players competing here along with international title holders.”
Bologan added: “We must commend the efforts made by Qatar Chess Association in hosting this tournament at the Aspire Zone Hall. FIDE has said that this tournament is hugely popular among players and officials.”
Key Results
Arjun Erigaisi (6.5 points) vs Andrey
Esipenko (7 points); Nodirbek Abdusattorov (6) vs Leon Luke Mendonca (6); Shant Sargsyan (6) vs A.R. Saleh Salem (6)
Ooredoo’s Sabah Rabiah al-Kuwari makes the ceremonial first move during the Qatar Masters game between Russia’s Andrey Esipenko and Armenia’s Shant Sargsyan. Qatar Chess Association President Mohammed al-Mudahka is also seen.
Arjun Erigaisi arrives at the Aspire Zone Hall for his game against Murali Karthikeyan.
