Azerbaijani grandmaster Vugar Hashimov remains on top

Azerbaijani chess grandmaster Vugar Hashimov has strengthened his grip at the top of the Grand Prix tournament in Astrakhan, Russia, with a second round draw against Russian Dmitry Yakovenko.

Hashimov who has 1.5 points shares the lead with Ruslan Ponomariov, Boris Gelfand, Pavel Eljanov and Peter Leko. Another Azeri grandmaster Teymur Rajabov drew with Russian Ernesto Inarkiev, while Shahriyar Mammadyarov lost to Israeli Boris Gelfand.

The third round will pit Hashimov against Gelfand, while Rajabov faces Ponomariov and Mammadyarov clashes with Inarkiev.


/AzerTAc/