DRODUSKI, SIMONIYAN SHARE LEAD JAMES JOSE

Khaleej Times
w.asp?xfile=data/sports/2009/August/sports_August6 74.xml&section=sports&col=
Aug 27 2009
UAE

27 August 2009 ABU DHABI – It is a battle between Ukraine’s Droduski
and Simoniyan of Armenia for the International Master’s crown in
the chess event of the 13th Armed Forces Officers Club Open Sports
Festival.

Droduski and Simoniyan are in joint lead with six points each.

Droduski defeated Armenia’s Zafin in the seventh round and followed
that up with a win over Georgia’s Zorab in the eighth round. He had
earlier drawn the game against Malcomiyan of Armenia. Meanwhile,
Simoniyan defeated Egypt’s Basim Samir. In the earlier rounds, he
was held to draws by Armenia’s Malcomiyan and Ukraine’s Shevchenko.

In the women’s event, Georgia’s Maya continued her match towards
retaining the title, sitting comfortably at the top spot with five
points after adding a point and a half to her credit following a
draw game against compatriot Khoryatsa and a win against Russia’s
Yulia Riganova.

At second spot lie two other Georgian contestants Jurriella and
Khoryatsa–with four points apiece. This follows Jurriella’s draw
game with Serbia’s Monakova and Khoryatsa’s draw against Maya.

Meanwhile, Renelson of the Philippines continue to increase the gap
at the top of the Open Chess event, having defeated UAE’s Abdullah
Al Marzouki and played two draw games against UAE’s Ahmed Khoory and
compatriot, Robert Ariliano, to take his total accumulated points
to seven.

Rahman forced to withdraw UAE’s Grand Master Salim Abdul Rahman
has been forced to withdraw from the championship because of sudden
ill-health which struck him midway in the seventh round.

Abdul Rahman had to be whisked away to hospital where, after thorough
medical check-up, the doctor advised him not to further part in the
event. Abdul Rahman’s withdrawal came at a time he was in a better
position to be a major contender.