Aronian Defeats Mamedyarov in Round 2 of the Candidates Tournament

KHANTY-MANSIYSK, RUSSIA — Armenian GM Levon Aronian defeated Shahriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan on Friday in Round 2 of the Candidates Tournament in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Aronian’s opponent conceded the game on the 44th move.

In the first round Armenia’s hopeful, playing with black pieces, lost to India’s Viswanathan Anand. Aronian’s opponent in Round 3 scheduled for Saturday is Bulgaria’s Veselin Topalov.

The 2014 FIDE Candidates Tournament kicked off in Khanty-Mansiysk on Thursday and will continue though April 1st.

The FIDE Candidates Tournament will determine the challenger who will face, later this year, the current title holder World Champion Magnus Carlsen for the prestigious FIDE World Championship.

The eight participants are Viswanathan Anand of India, Levon Aronian of Armenia, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan and four Russian players – Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Svidler, Sergey Karjakin and Dmitry Andreikin.