(MENAFN- Gulf Times) World Champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway settled for another draw in the seventh round, this time against third seed GM Anish Giri of the Netherlands, in Qatar Master Open.
Carlsen, who halved the point with GM Wesley So the round before, is in joint lead with GM Sanan Sjugirov of Russia and GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan.
Mamedyarov and Sjugirov posted wins over Indian GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly and Russian GM Dmitry Jakovenko, respectively.
Anish, playing with black, used the Sicilian Najdorf to neutralise Carlsen. While the draw didn't get the Dutchman closer, it did keep him within striking distance.
"I played the Berlin for I don't know how long. I had never played the Najdorf in my life...I think I'm playing it quite well in the games that I've played here, which is very surprising. I have no idea why," Giri said after the game.
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