Mamedov becomes Kazakhstan’s youngest GM, nine share lead at Sharjah Masters

Kazakhstan’s Edgar Mamedov has become the first player in the history of the Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship to earn the Grandmaster title during the tournament itself.

His achievement came in the third round of the event’s eighth edition, currently being held at 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. The championship features the participation of 350 male and female players from around the world.

Mamedov’s path to the title began with a strong victory in the first round against Ukrainian Grandmaster Ihor Samunenkov, followed by a draw in the second round against American GM Samuel Sevian. Mamedov is the country’s first chess player to be a Grandmaster at 14.

Despite a loss in the third round to Hungarian GM Adam Kozak, the Kazakh player had already secured his final required norm, thus officially earning the Grandmaster title.

Meanwhile, the top of the leaderboard witnessed a shift after round three, with nine players now sharing the lead with 2.5 points each. The joint leaders include India’s Visakh, Serbia’s Aleksandar Indjic, Greece’s Nikolas Theodorou, China’s Dai Changren, the Netherlands’ Anish Giri, Hungary’s Adam Kozák, Belarus’ Mikhail Nikitenko, Uzbekistan’s Ortik Nigmatov, and Russia’s Ivan Zemlyansky. A group of 23 players currently trail just behind with two points each.

Round three of the tournament delivered a mix of tightly contested battles and pivotal results that have started to shape the course of the event.

On board one, Serbian GM Aleksandar Indjic, a consistent performer so far, was held to a draw by Indian IM Visakh N R, who showed excellent preparation and defensive precision. The draw allowed both players to remain in contention without ceding too much ground.

Over on board two, Chinese GM Dai Changren and Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo also split the point after a well-fought game. Both players demonstrated a deep understanding of the middlegame complexities, eventually simplifying into a balanced endgame where a draw was the natural outcome. The result keeps Maghsoodloo among the front runners, while Dai continues to build his impressive performance.

A significant shift occurred on board three, where Dutch GM Anish Giri secured a vital victory over rising Indian star GM Pranav Anand. Giri, known for his elite preparation and endgame technique, capitalized on a minor inaccuracy by Anand in the middlegame to convert an advantage with clinical precision. This win puts Giri firmly in the mix at the top of the standings and adds momentum to his campaign.

On board five, UAE’s top Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman faced a strong challenge from China’s Zhu Jiner, one of the top female players in the field. The encounter was dynamic, with chances for both sides, but ultimately ended in a draw after balanced play on both ends. Salem’s result reflects his steady form, as he continues to represent the UAE with distinction on home soil.

Across the round, 20 matches ended in draws, highlighting the depth and parity of the competition. With many of the top seeds neutralizing each other, the tournament remains wide open, and every half-point is proving to be crucial.

The third round was inaugurated on board one by Hisham Al Taher, Secretary-General of the Asian Chess Federation, alongside Faisal Khalid Al Nabouda, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the Sharjah Cooperative Society, and Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi, Tournament Director.

The third tournament, for players rated between 1400 and 1900, was opened by Najla Al Shamsi, Chairwoman of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club for Girls, and Faisal Al Hammadi, Head of the Technical and Arbitration Committees.

Taher expressed his satisfaction with the tournament’s scale and quality, thanking Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, President of the Sharjah Chess Club, for his guidance and leadership. He highlighted the event’s strong international reputation, reflected in the large number of titled players participating.

Nabouda reaffirmed the importance of Sharjah’s continuous support for cultural and sporting events. “We are proud to be sponsors of this championship and consistently present at major cultural and sporting forums in the emirate,” he said.