International Grandmasters Chess: Tukhaev jumps to sole lead

GM Adam Tukhaev of Ukraine emerged sole leader with eight points after outwitting GM Masoud Mosadeghpour of Iran in the ninth round of the Tetrasoft Hyderabad Marriott International Grandmasters chess tournament on Monday.

GM Adam Tukhaev (right) outwitted GM Masoud Mosadeghpour of Iran in the ninth round of the Tetrasoft Hyderabad Marriott International Grandmasters chess tournament on Monday.

GM Adam Tukhaev of Ukraine emerged sole leader with eight points after outwitting GM Masoud Mosadeghpour of Iran in the ninth round of the Tetrasoft Hyderabad Marriott International Grandmasters chess tournament here on Monday.

Five players GM Boris Savchenko, IM Alexandr Triapishko, IM Muhammad Khusenkhojaev, Kaustuv Kundu and N.B. Hari Madhavan are in joint-second place with seven points each.

On the top board, Masoud opted for King’s Pawn opening to which Tukhaev replied with d6 before it deviated into Pirc Defence. Then, Masoud played f4 and chose Austrian attack. But, with things going out of control, the Iranian had no option but to resign after 44 moves.

Khusenkhojaev of Tajikishtan and Hari Madhavan settled for a 42-move draw after Queen Pawn opening to which the Indian replied with c4 offering pawn and changed the opening to Queen’s Gambit. The Indian replied with c6 Queen’s Gambit Declined Slav Defence and with no scope to make any headway opted to split the point.