Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
Aug 18 2004
Saleh forces GM Tahir to a draw
By A Correspondent
DUBAI – UAE’s Jasim A.R. Saleh hogged the limelight by drawing with
Grandmaster Vakhidov Tahir of Uzbekistan in 36 moves in a Dutch
defence. It was a pulsating match which ended after a razor sharp
battle in the endgame.
The queens were exchanged early in the opening and Jasim matched wits
with the Grandmaster with counter blows. In the end a draw was agreed
despite Vakhidov having passed a pawn on the 6th rank.
Seeded players tumbled on the third day of the 14th Abu Dhabi Chess
Festival. Grandmasters had a tough time in proving their superiority
over untitled players and conceded draws.
Gleizerov Evgeny and Anastasian Ashot shared the lead with 3 points
in masters at the end of the third round of the Abu Dhabi Chess
Festival held at Cultural Foundation.
Kobalia Mikhail, Dzhumaev Marat, Ghaem Maghami Ehsan, Harikrishna
Pentala, Minasian Artashes, Bocharov Dmitry are in the second place
with 2.5 points.
On the top board, Bocharov Dmitry drew with Kobalia Mikhail in 22
moves from a Slav defence classical variation. Bocharov played a
solid game. Kobalia with a series of good moves maintained the
balance and split the point in the 22nd move.
Gleizerov Evgeny played a brilliant game and defeated Kotsur Pavel in
34 moves from a Catalan opening.
Gleizerov breached the centre on the 13th move with e5 advance.
Kotsur was caught off guard and attempted to stir up things by giving
up his queen. Gleizerov’s immaculate technique led to an emphatic
victory.
Anastasian Ashot defeated Sundarajan Kidambi in 49 moves from a Slav
defence. The unusual approach on the 4th move unsettled Kidambi.
Kidambi hastened the end by exchanging rooks and allowing the
Armenian to clinch an easy victory.
Among UAE players, Mohamed Hossein and Suhail Tayeb won their
respective games against Illijin Neboisa and Khalil Ibrahim. Taleb
Moussa, Jasim A.R. Saleh, Nabil Saleh and Hassan Abdullah drew their
games.
In the children’s section, six players shared the lead with 3 points.
Bajarani Ulvi, Abdulaziz Karmostaji, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, Zayed Ali,
Azemati Amir and Abdullah Karmostaji are on top with 3 successive
wins.