PLOVDIV, APRIL 30, NOAYAN TAPAN. Three chess players are in the lead after 8 tours in the Men's European Chess Championship which is being held in the city of Plovdiv, Poland. Sergey Movsisian (Slovakia), Emil Sutovski (Israel), and Pavel Trigubov (Russia) gained 6.5 points each out of 8 possible ones and share the 1-3rd places. 14 participants have 6 points each. Vladimir Hakobian shares the 18-44th places with 5.5 points. Three participants are also in the lead in the women's tournament. Pia Kramling (Sweden), Katerina Lahno and Anna Ushenina (both from Ukraine) share the 1-3rd places with 6.5 points. Elina Danielian shares the 8-21st places with 5.5 points and Lilit Mkrtchian 22-45th places with 5 points.

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