GM Mahammad Muradli Remains Sole Leader After Sixth Round of Dubai Open Chess Tournament

GM Mahammad Muradli, the two-time Azerbaijan champion, faced a tough challenge in the sixth round of the 24th Dubai Open Chess Tournament. The tournament leader was pushed to the limit by 13-year-old Turkish prodigy GM-elect Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus in a thrilling match that ended in a draw.

Playing black, Erdogmus strategically placed a protected passed pawn on the c3-square, just two steps away from promotion, causing constant concern for Muradli. Despite the pressure, Muradli managed to create counterplay on the d-file with his rooks, eventually leading to a drawn rook endgame.

With this result, Muradli maintains his lead with five points, while Erdogmus remains in joint second place with 4.5 points alongside GM Pa Iniyan and IM Aronyak Ghosh, who also drew their sixth-round game. Another notable player, second-seed GM Raunak Sadhwani, bounced back from a previous defeat to secure a win in the sixth round.

In Category B, local hero Fide Master (FM) Ahmed Fareed and Libya’s Yousef A. Alhassadi are tied for the lead with 5.5 points each. The seventh round of the tournament is set to begin at 5pm on Friday at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.

The competition remains fierce as players from around the world showcase their skills and determination to emerge victorious in one of the most prestigious chess tournaments in the region. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting event.