More than 130 players compete in two age categories
Dubai, UAE (November 30, 2016) – Abdullah Mahmoud Al-Awadhi of the UAE and Ganesh Adharsh of India powered their way over 130 title pretenders to wrest the title in their respective divisions in the recently concluded Dubai Chess and Culture Club November Beginners Chess Tournament.
Al-Awadhi triumphed in the 10-Under age group with six points from seven games, punctuating his championship performance with a title-clinching win over India’s Aarav Nambiar in the final round. Adharsh likewise registered six points to win the Under-12 age group after prevailing in a top-board battle with the UAE’s Essa Shahad.
Both winners, however, had to rely on superior tiebreak scores following the exciting photo-finish results in the final round. Al-Awadhi emerged with the highest tiebreak in a five-way logjam at the top, with India’s Vishal Chaudhary and the UAE’s Hamad Essa Al Balushi taking the silver and bronze medals. India’s Adithya Sarma and Niranjan also had six points, but settled for fifth and sixth respectively with inferior tiebreak scores.
Al Balushi frustrated the title hopes of Mohammad Abdulrahman Alawadhi, who was leading the Under-10 event going into the final round, by winning their top-board encounter. Alawadhi dropped to solo sixth place with 5.5 points. Chaudhary won over India’s Sriram Vuppu, Sarma outplayed the UAE’s Mesfer Al Mesafri, while Niranjan defeated India’s Shaurya Dinesh Sawlani.
In the Under-12 event, Adharsh outpointed compatriot Ahad Asif Khot and the UAE’s Khalifa Essa Al Balushi in the tiebreaks, relegating the latter to second and third respectively. Khot won over Ghala Ali Essa of the UAE in the final round, while Al Balushi took down India’s Mridul Ashokan.
Russia’s Alexander Kunitsyn, Muhammed Yaseen and Shahad tied for the fourth to sixth places with five points apiece.
According to tournament director International Arbiter Saeed Yousuf Shakari, players from the UAE, India, Iran, Lebanon, USA, Russia, Egypt and Ukraine took part in the tournament, which was organized as part of the club’s grassroots development program.
Mohammad El Husseini, the club’s managing director, and Shakari awarded the prizes to the winners.
