Grandmasters Wang Hao of China, Vladimir Onischuk of Uraine, Robert Hovhannisvan of Armenia and Babu Lalith of India conquered their respective third round challengers to tie for the lead with perfect three point slates in the fourth Al Ain Chess Classic at the Reyhaan Hili Rotana Hotel in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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According to Gulf Today, second seed of the tournament GM Wang Hao destroyed the Slav defense of GM Zaven Andriasian of Armenia by 27 moves only. As early as the 10^th move Wang, a former Chinese national champion, released a pawn storm to pry open the black king.

In the other matches, GM Hovhannisyan smashed the French Defense of Indian IM Mishra Swayams. In a Rook and pawn endgame, the 2011 Armenian Chess Championship titlist was about to promote a passed King-pawn forcing resignation on the 44th move.

Indian GM Lalith, essayed the Queen's Pawn opening and punished the unorthodox reply of GM Yuri Kuzubov of Ukraine in 67 moves. The 2012 Commonwealth chess champion draws off a combination on the 37th move to net two pawns and switch to a won minor piece endgame.

The striking game of the round was provided by GM Vladimir Onischuk of Ukraine who demolished the Sicilian defense of IM Manuel Petrosyan of Armenia in 43 moves. The Ukrainian Grandmaster sacrificed a Rook and a Knight and then reverses into a won endgame with an outside passed pawn.

There are 18 players that are currently tied with 2.5 points each and 21 players follow at two points each in the race for $57,000 in cash prizes for the Masters event. A record 56 GMs and 5WGMs are among the 127-man field from 33 different countries across the globe have participated in the tournament.

TagsChess, Al Ain Chess Classic, Wang Hao, GM Babu Lalith, GM Vladimir Onischuk