In the final rounds of FIDE Grand Prix Series Tournament organized in Jermuk, Armenia, three chess players appeared on top of tournament list. Rustam Kasimdzhanov, the only player who finally held victory in the 9th round, joined tournament leaders Vasily Ivanchuk and Peter Leko. Uzbek chess player was competing against Ivan Chaparinov who gave in at the 42nd move.

Armenian grand master Levon Aronyan and Vladimir Hakbyan played drawn games against their rivals Bacrot and Yakovenko. After the 9th round, Aronyan who has 5 points continues sharing the 4th-7th positions with Kariakin, Elianov and Alekseev. Aronyan's tournament position also remains unchanged: he shares the 11th-13th positions with Chaparinov and Kamsky.

August 19 is declared a rest day. In the 10th round scheduled on August 20, Aronyan will play against Vladimir Hakobyan with black figures.

Results for the 9th round:

Kamsky Gata         - Leko Peter (Hungary)  1/2
Kasimdzhanov Rustam (Uzbekistan) - Cheparinov Ivan (Bulgaria)  1-0
Gelfand Boris (Israel)    - Alekseev Evgeny (Russia)  1/2
Elianov Pavel (Ukraine)       - Ivanchuk Vassily 1/2
Kariakin Sergey (Ukraine)     - Inarkiev Ernesto (Rusia) 1/2
Bacrot Etienne (France)   - Aronian Levon (Armenia)  1/2
Yakovenko Dmitry (Russia)   - Akopian Vladimir (Armenia) 1/2

Standing:

1. Ivanchuk, Vassily    6
 2. Kasimdzhanov, Rustam 6
 3. Leko, Peter          6
 4. Elianov, Pavel       5
 5. Aronyan, Levon       5
 6. Kariakin, Sergey      5
 7. Alekseev, Evgeny     5
 8. Bacrot, Etienne      4½
 9. Gelfand, Boris       4½
10. Yakovenko, Dmitry    4
11. Hakopyan, Vladimir    3½
12. Kamsky, Gata         3½
13. Cheparinov, Ivan     3
14. Inarkiev, Ernesto    2