Dominance on Display: GMs Jose Martinez and Alexey Sarana Shine in 3 0 Thursday Tournaments
Title: Blitz Kings Shine in 3 0 Thursday Tournaments
Date: May 7, 2026
In a thrilling display of skill and strategy, Grandmasters Jose Martinez and Alexey Sarana continued their dominance in the 3 0 Thursday tournaments, each adding to their impressive trophy collections on May 7. The day saw Sarana clinch victory in the first tournament before finishing just half a point behind Martinez in the subsequent events, where Martinez secured his 12th title, tying him with International Master Renato Terry for the most first-place finishes in Thursday blitz tournaments.
First Tournament: Sarana First Among Equals
The day kicked off with Sarana showcasing his prowess, finishing undefeated with a score of 9/11. After a strong start with five consecutive wins, he maintained his momentum with four draws and two victories in the final rounds. A standout moment came in the third round, where Sarana executed a stunning rook sacrifice against GM Alexander Rustemov, leaving spectators in awe.
Despite Sarana’s strong performance, it seemed unlikely he would take the tournament victory as GM Matthias Bluebaum led with 8.5/10 heading into the final round. However, Bluebaum faced a tough challenge against GM Aravindh Chithambaram and was unable to secure the win. This unexpected turn of events allowed Sarana to tie for first place with Chithambaram and IM Reza Mahdavi, ultimately claiming victory on tiebreaks. Bluebaum, who had led for much of the tournament, settled for fourth place, while IM Mai Narva took home the women’s prize for the first time with a score of seven points.
Second Tournament: Martinez Back On Track
Martinez entered the second tournament eager to break a winning drought that had lasted since April 2. However, his hopes seemed dim after an opening-round loss to IM Deysi Cori, who proved her mettle by defeating GM Markus Ragger in the next round.
Undeterred, Martinez rebounded spectacularly, winning his next eight games. In a nail-biting tenth round, he faced Sarana but ran out of time after an intense 106 moves, ending his winning streak. Heading into the final round, Martinez led Sarana and FM Havard Haug by half a point. He secured a crucial win against GM Oleksandr Bortnyk, finishing the tournament with an impressive 9.5 points. Sarana followed closely with nine points, while Haug rounded out the top three with 8.5. IM Karina Ambartsumova claimed the women’s prize, marking her record 15th award in a 3 0 Thursday tournament.
Third Tournament: Martinez Goes Back to Back
In the final tournament of the day, Martinez continued his winning ways, going undefeated with a score of 8.5 points. A pivotal match against IM Renato Terry in the eighth round tested his skills, but Martinez held strong.
As the tournament progressed, IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher led with 8/10 before being defeated by GM Haowen Xue, who also reached 8.5 points. Martinez, needing a win against FM James Chirilov to maintain his lead, delivered under pressure. With superior tiebreaks, he clinched first place ahead of Xue, while GM Andrew Hong took third, edging out Taher, Terry, and FM Ethan Guo on tiebreaks. FM Anastasia Avramidou won the women’s prize for the second consecutive week, scoring six points.
Conclusion
The 3 0 Thursday tournaments continue to captivate chess enthusiasts, offering a thrilling platform for top-tier players to showcase their talents. With a combined prize fund of $3,000 each week, the competition remains fierce, and the rivalry between Martinez and Sarana promises to deliver even more excitement in the weeks to come. As these Grandmasters add to their accolades, the chess community eagerly anticipates their next moves in this electrifying series.