Martirosyan beat Iran's Amin Tabatabaei in game one, meaning a win or draw tomorrow would see him progress to the quarter-finals to play either Russian seed Vladimir Fedoseev or the Serbian Velimir Ivić, who drew their first game.

World number one and reigning world chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway started with a draw against Russian 16th seed Andrey Esipenko, with the winner of that match facing the winner of the tie between Frenchman Étienne Bacrot and Pole Kacper Piorun.

Fifth seed Alexander Grischuk of Russia tied with Polish 12th seed Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and 13th seed Vidit Gujrathi of India also was held in his opening game against Azerbaijan's Vasif Durarbayli, the 93rd seed.

France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave - the seventh seed - started with a draw against Russian 10th seed Sergey Karjakin, with the winner of the tie facing either Peter Svidler of Russia or American Sam Shankland.

Two-time Olympic silver medallist and two-time world figure skating champion Evgenia Medvedeva was a guest of honour today, performing the first move in the game between Carlsen and Esipenko.

Alexandra Kosteniuk won her opening game of the quarter-finals in the Women's Chess World Cup in an all-Russian affair against 27th seed Valentina Gunina.

A win or draw for the 14th seed tomorrow would put her into the semi-finals to face compatriot and second seed Kateryna Lagno or Chinese seventh seed Tan Zhongyi.

Top seed Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia drew with Kazakh eighth seed Dinara Saduakassova on the other side of the bracket.

The winner of that match will face either Georgian fifth seed Nana Dzagnidze or fourth seed Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine, who also drew today.