After the 8th round of 2nd Ferdowsi International Chess Open Tournament in Mashhad, Iran, Armenian grandmaster Arman Pashikian tops standings with 7,5 points.

He will face off against Azerbaijan’s Rasul Ibragimov in the 9th round after scoring a win over Pouria Darini (Iran).

Meanwhile, another Armenian representative Levon Babujyan comes 7th with 6 points.

Pashikian’s wife and Armenian women’s chess team member Maria Kursova ranks 2nd with 5,5 points after beating Minoo Asgarizadeh (Iran). Kursova will rival Sopiko Khukhashvili (Georgia) in the 8th round.