Giri, Indjic share lead at 8th edition of Sharjah Masters Chess Championship

The 8th Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship, organized by the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, has reached its critical final phase with only three rounds remaining to crown the new champion.

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Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri and Serbian Grandmaster Aleksandar Indjic currently share the lead with 5 points each.

The highly anticipated seventh-round matchup between the two leaders is expected to be a decisive game for the top of the standings.

Top-seeded Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov remains firmly in the hunt for the title with an impressive 4.5 points after six rounds, following a key victory that keeps him within striking distance of the leaders. The young star continues to demonstrate his consistency and competitive edge as the tournament intensifies.

Trailing just half a point behind, a tightly packed group of fourteen players are tied at 4 points, creating a highly competitive leaderboard. Among them is Emirati Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman, who delivered a vital performance in round six by defeating Sava Vetokhin, a competitor playing under the flag of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The win positions Abdulrahman well for a strong finish as the event enters its crucial stages.