In a thrilling start to the Sharjah Masters chess tournament, world number seven Erigaisi Arjun showcased his dominance by defeating Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan in the first round. The Indian Grandmasters Aravindh Chithamabaram and P Iniyan also emerged victorious in their respective matches, setting a strong tone for the tournament.
The tournament, with a prize money of USD 52000, witnessed intense battles on the board as players fought hard for their wins. Two young players of Indian origin, Abhimanyu Mishra of the United States and Shreyas Royal of England, also secured victories in their matches, adding to the excitement of the event.
While the higher seeded players struggled to secure wins, Arjun displayed exceptional skill and strategy to outplay his opponent. Chithambaram and Iniyan also delivered impressive performances, showcasing their tactical prowess on the board.
Among the other Indian players in the tournament, S L Narayanan and Nihal Sarin had to settle for draws in their matches, while GM D Harika managed to hold her opponent to a draw. However, Leon Luke Mendonca faced a tough challenge and went down to his opponent from Poland.
With eight rounds still remaining in the tournament, the competition is expected to intensify as players battle it out for the top honors. The Sharjah Masters chess tournament promises to be a thrilling event filled with exciting matches and fierce competition.