Baku Open 2023 R1: Dushyant Sharma holds Rauf Mamedov to a draw

IM Dushyant Sharma held Azerbaijan no.5, GM Rauf Mamedov to a draw in the first round of Baku Open 2023. Dushyant played solid throughout the game and ensured no mistakes were made. The majority of the game was a rook endgame which lasted for 56 moves out of 88 in total. FM Mohamed Anees M missed a great opportunity to win against GM Vitaliy Bernadskiy (UKR). The former initially found the correct way to liquidate into a favorable knight vs bishop endgame. However, he misplayed and let his opportunity slip. FM Nikhil Dixit scored a beautiful win against IM Manish Anto Cristiano F when the latter blundered immediately after declining a guaranteed draw by perpetual check. Round 2 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FA Lana Afandiyeva