Western Asia Youth Chess Championship:
Iranians grab six blitz medals
The blitz competitions of the Western Asia Youth Chess Championship saw Iranians win six medals, including two golds, across different age groups in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
There was an all-Iranian top two in the boys’ under-12 contests, as FIDE master Ramtin Kakavand collected 8.5 points after nine rounds to walk away with the ultimate prize, with Aihan Rahbar settling for the silver with 7.5 points.
This was Kakavand’s second medal in the competitions, following his bronze in the rapid contests.
Mohammad-Hossein Darvishi won a second blitz gold for the country, finishing atop the boys’ under-16 standings with 7.5 points, with Uzbekistan’s Rauf Kasimov and Indian international master Ethan Vaz in the following spots, respectively, with 6.5 points after nine rounds of play.
Kiasha Mahboubi, meanwhile, tallied eight points for a silver medal in the boys’ under-8 division, finishing runner-up to Kazakhstan Adinur Adilbek, who collected nine points.
In the girls’ competitions, Saina Kowsari (under-12) and Taraneh Taqizadeh (under-14) added a couple of bronze medals to Iran’s haul in the Tajik capital.
Taqizadeh also took her personal tally to two medals, having won a silver medal in the rapid event.