Muscat: The Muscat Nights International Chess Championship has witnessed a fierce battle for the top positions in both the Over 2000 and Under 2000 rating categories, amid high technical standards displayed by a group of internationally rated players. The competition has seen strong and notable performances as the second round of the classical chess event concluded at Al Amal Club.
Shared Lead in the Over 2000 Category
In the Over 2000 rating category, the results of the second round saw several prominent players continue to share the lead with a perfect score of two points. Among them are India’s Leon Luke Mendonca, Belarusian Arkadij Naiditsch, Frenchman Loic Travadon, Turkish player Umut Ata Akbas, Iranian Mohammad Mehdi Abbasi, and Egyptian Ahmed Adly, alongside other top-rated players reflecting the close competition and early intensity of the race.
Among the standout results, Leon Luke Mendonca secured an important victory over Russia’s Rogov, while Ahmed Adly continued his strong showing with a deserved win over Yemen’s Zandan. Iran’s Abbasi defeated Kazakhstan’s Alisher, Turkey’s Akbas claimed a key win over India’s Kiyos, and Belarusian Kirill Stupak overcame Palestine’s Mohammad Sadr in matches characterised by high concentration and tactical precision.
Heated Competition in the Under 2000 Category
In the Under 2000 category, players made a strong impression by the end of the second round, with Omani Abdulsalam al Masheikhi topping the standings with a perfect score. He is joined by a group of players who maintained two points, including India’s Krishnendra Mulgund, Omani Salim al Masheikhi, Syrian Laith Mulhem, Iranian Farhoud Fathi Tavani, along with players from several Arab and Asian countries.
The second round in this category produced notable results, as Ahmed al Makhmari defeated Amer al Maashani, while Iran’s Seyed overcame Mahad al Amri. Salim al Masheikhi continued his fine form with another win over Yemen’s Sabri, Iranian Farhoud defeated Iraq’s Karrar, and Tunisian Mohamed Khalfa secured a deserved victory over Mohammed al Dhiabi.
Indian player Nuh Nizar Hilmi said his participation in the Muscat International Chess Championship 2026 is focused on learning and improving rather than results, describing the tournament as a valuable opportunity to gain experience against higher-rated players. After collecting one point from two rounds, Hilmi emphasised the importance of learning from mistakes in a high-level event, noting that competing against world-ranked players helps develop tactical, positional, and overall playing strength.
He also praised the organisation of the championship, highlighting Oman’s focus on quality and simplicity, and described the venue as comfortable and reflective of Omani authenticity. Hilmi concluded that the tournament offers a rich technical and personal experience that will benefit his future chess development.
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