Grand international master Dumitru Svetushkin drew with the former world chess champion Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine in the third round of the European Individual Chess Championship that is held in Minsk and closes on June 11, IPN reports.

The Moldovan chess player was even close to beating Ponomariov as he had a more advantageous position. Svetushkin is the third best Moldovan player after Viorel Bologan and Viorel Iordachescu. The second Moldovan chess player competing in Minsk, Vladimir Hamitsevich, has the same score – two points out of three possible.

The prize money of the European Individual Chess Championship of Minsk is €100 000.The winner will get €20 000. The first 22 ranked obtain the right to take part in the World Cup. The European Championship consists of 11 rounds.