2nd UzChess Cup R8: Can Praggnanandhaa stop Abdusattorov?

by Shahid Ahmed - 26/06/2025

Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi to maintain his sole lead at 2nd UzChess Cup Masters. Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) shared the point with Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) in a wild battle. Sindarov is at 5/8, a half point behind Abdusattorov. R Praggnanandhaa scored a smooth win over compatriot Arjun Erigaisi. He moved to 4.5/8. Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) suffered his second loss in-a-row, this time against Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB). Praggnanandhaa will face Abdusattorov in the final round and Sindarov will be up against Parham. There is a good mathematical chance for a Playoff if Praggnanandhaa wins his game. Round 9 starts tomorrow at 11 a.m. local time, 11:30 a.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Sindarov in the race

The legend, GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR) handed the sole leader, GM Nikolas Theodorou (GRE) his sole loss of the event. The Greece no.2 is still in sole lead 5.5/8 as his immediate pursuer, GM Mukhiddin Madaminov (UZB) was held to a draw by IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (UZB). In the Futures event, GM Ortik Nigmatov (UZB) lost against IM Saidakbar Saydaliev (UZB). GM Saparmyrat Atabayev (TKM) and GM Evgeny Alekseev (ISR) won against GM Robert Ruck (HUN) and GM Boris Chatalbashev (DEN) respectively. Both of them emerged coleaders 5/8, heading into the final round.

Praggnanandhaa - Arjun: 1-0

R Praggnanandhaa (2767) has faced Arjun Erigaisi (2782) six times in Classical rated games. The score is level at 3-3, both players have won two games each and the remaining two ended in draws. Earlier this year, Praggnanandhaa got the better of Arjun at 87th Tata Steel Masters. This time also the result was the same.

Position after 13...d5?

13...d5 was an incorrect break by Black as it worsened his position. 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Bxc4 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Kh7 17.Bc5 Rf4 Black's position fell apart in a hurry and White won the game in ten more moves.

R Praggnanandhaa scored a smooth win over Arjun Erigaisi

Aravindh - Rapport: 0-1

This is the first-ever Classical rated game between Aravindh Chithambaram (2749) and Richard Rapport (HUN, 2714). Previously, they only played Rapid and Blitz games, combining five in total. All of them ended decisively. This one was no different.

Aravindh Chithambaram suffered his fourth loss as Richard Rapport scored his second win of the event

Yakubboev - Sindarov: 0.5-0.5

Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB, 2659) and Javokhir Sindarov (UZB, 2710) played a dozen Classical rated games against each other. Score is 5.5-6.5 in favor of Sindarov. They had only three decisive games and nine draws. Yakubboev won two and Sindarov one, all three of them were won by the player who had the white pieces.

Position after 27...0-0-0

The above position looks quite crazy. Computer evaluates it to be equal which is not something a human would agree with. The game could have gone either player's way, but it ended in a draw.

Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) and Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) had a wild battle which ended in a draw

Parham - Vokhidov: 0-1

Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI, 2691) and Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB, 2644) played three Classical rated games versus each other. All of them ended in draws. Parham made a series of blunders in a sharp position.

Position after 22...Rf6

White blundered 23.Rf3?? e4!-+ would have ended the game ended sooner. However, Black played 23...Be8 24.Qc1? Bg6 25.Rg3? Be4+ 26.Kg1 Rg6 27.Qe1 Rh3 28.Bxe5 Qxe5 29.d6+ Bd5 30.Bxd5+ Qxd5 and Black won.

Parham Maghsoodloo suffered his second consecutive loss of the event

Nepomniachtchi - Abdusattorov: 0.5-0.5

Ian Nepomniachtchi (2757) and Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB, 2767) have played a lot of games against each other online. However, when it comes to Classical rated games, they played only four. Both of them have won a game each with the white pieces and the remaining two ended in draws.

Ian Nepomniachtchi - Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB): 0.5-0.5

Challengers: The legend GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR) handed the sole leader, GM Nikolas Theodorou (GRE), his first loss of the event

Masters

Challengers

Futures

For more Round 8 photos, please click here.

Replay live stream

Replay Round 8 live commentary by FM Shakhzod Vokhidov (UZB) and WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili (GEO) | Video: chess24

Replay Round 8 live commentary by Amruta Mokal and IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Challengers Round 8 games

Replay Futures Round 8 games

Time Control

90 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game with 30 seconds increment starting from move one in Masters. For Challengers, Futures and Open, the time control is 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment.

Prizes

The total prize fund is US$ 121500. Masters has $80000, Challengers $25000, Futures $11500 and Open $5000.

Masters Round 8 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	10	2767	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	1 - 0	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	2782	9
2	1	2749	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	0 - 1	GM	Rapport, Richard	2714	8
3	2	2659	GM	Yakubboev, Nodirbek	½ - ½	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	2710	7
4	3	2691	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	0 - 1	GM	Vokhidov, Shamsiddin	2644	6
5	4	2757	GM	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	½ - ½	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	2767	5

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	w-we	K	rtg+/-
1	5	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	UZB	2767	5,5	0	19,50	4	0	3	0,91	10	9,1
2	7	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	UZB	2710	5	0	18,00	3	1	2,5	1,23	10	12,3
3	10	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	IND	2767	4,5	1	17,25	3	0	2,5	-0,09	10	-0,9
4	9	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	IND	2782	4,5	0	18,00	2	2	3	-0,24	10	-2,4
5	3	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	IRI	2691	4	0	15,50	2	1	3	0,41	10	4,1
6	2	GM	Yakubboev, Nodirbek	UZB	2659	4	0	15,50	2	1	2	0,81	10	8,1
7	8	GM	Rapport, Richard	HUN	2714	4	0	14,00	2	2	2	0,20	10	2
8	4	GM	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	FID	2757	3,5	0	14,25	0	0	3	-0,81	10	-8,1
9	6	GM	Vokhidov, Shamsiddin	UZB	2644	3	0	11,50	1	1	2,5	-0,05	10	-0,5
10	1	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	IND	2749	2	0	7,50	0	0	1	-2,37	10	-23,7

Details

Round 9 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	5	2767	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek		GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	2767	10
2	6	2644	GM	Vokhidov, Shamsiddin		GM	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	2757	4
3	7	2710	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir		GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	2691	3
4	8	2714	GM	Rapport, Richard		GM	Yakubboev, Nodirbek	2659	2
5	9	2782	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun		GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr.	2749	1

Details

Challengers Round 8 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	10	2589	GM	Hong, Andrew	0 - 1	GM	Ma, Qun	2630	9
2	1	2613	GM	Theodorou, Nikolas	0 - 1	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl	2634	8
3	2	2490	IM	Suyarov, Mukhammadzokhid	1 - 0	GM	Abasov, Nijat	2594	7
4	3	2522	GM	Sivuk, Vitaly	1 - 0	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir	2539	6
5	4	2536	GM	Madaminov, Mukhiddin	½ - ½	IM	Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim	2370	5

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	w-we	K	rtg+/-
1	1	GM	Theodorou, Nikolas	GRE	2613	5,5	0	21,25	4	1	3,5	0,67	10	6,7
2	4	GM	Madaminov, Mukhiddin	UZB	2536	5	0,5	19,00	3	0	3,5	1,22	10	12,2
3	3	GM	Sivuk, Vitaly	SWE	2522	5	0,5	18,00	3	1	3	1,31	10	13,1
4	8	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl	UKR	2634	4,5	0	18,00	3	3	3	-0,39	10	-3,9
5	9	GM	Ma, Qun	CHN	2630	4	1,5	14,75	1	1	2,5	-1,01	10	-10,1
6	10	GM	Hong, Andrew	USA	2589	4	1	14,75	3	1	2	-0,21	10	-2,1
7	2	IM	Suyarov, Mukhammadzokhid	UZB	2490	4	0,5	13,75	2	1	1,5	0,65	10	6,5
8	7	GM	Abasov, Nijat	AZE	2594	3	0	10,75	1	0	1,5	-1,45	10	-14,5
9	5	IM	Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim	UZB	2370	2,5	0,5	10,50	0	0	2	0,52	10	5,2
10	6	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir	UZB	2539	2,5	0,5	9,25	1	1	1,5	-1,31	10	-13,1

Details

Round 9 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	5	2370	IM	Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim		GM	Hong, Andrew	2589	10
2	6	2539	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir		GM	Madaminov, Mukhiddin	2536	4
3	7	2594	GM	Abasov, Nijat		GM	Sivuk, Vitaly	2522	3
4	8	2634	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl		IM	Suyarov, Mukhammadzokhid	2490	2
5	9	2630	GM	Ma, Qun		GM	Theodorou, Nikolas	2613	1

Details

Futures Round 8 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	10	2450	IM	Saydaliev, Saidakbar	1 - 0	GM	Nigmatov, Ortik	2474	9
2	1	2520	GM	Alekseev, Evgeny	1 - 0	GM	Chatalbashev, Boris	2489	8
3	2	2470	IM	Begmuratov, Khumoyun	½ - ½	GM	Pichot, Alan	2588	7
4	3	2513	GM	Sychev, Klementy	1 - 0	GM	Abdisalimov, Abdimalik	2490	6
5	4	2517	GM	Atabayev, Saparmyrat	1 - 0	GM	Ruck, Robert	2515	5

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	w-we	K	rtg+/-
1	1	GM	Alekseev, Evgeny	ISR	2520	5	0,5	19,00	2	0	2,5	0,82	10	8,2
2	4	GM	Atabayev, Saparmyrat	TKM	2517	5	0,5	18,50	3	1	2,5	0,83	10	8,3
3	9	GM	Nigmatov, Ortik	UZB	2474	4,5	1	17,25	4	1	2	0,83	10	8,3
4	3	GM	Sychev, Klementy	FID	2513	4,5	0	17,50	2	0	2,5	0,26	10	2,6
5	10	IM	Saydaliev, Saidakbar	UZB	2450	4	0,5	16,75	2	0	2,5	0,64	10	6,4
6	8	GM	Chatalbashev, Boris	DEN	2489	4	0,5	15,25	2	0	2	0,22	10	2,2
7	7	GM	Pichot, Alan	ESP	2588	3,5	1,5	12,25	2	1	1	-1,57	10	-15,7
8	6	GM	Abdisalimov, Abdimalik	UZB	2490	3,5	1	13,75	2	0	2	-0,38	10	-3,8
9	2	IM	Begmuratov, Khumoyun	UZB	2470	3,5	0,5	14,00	1	0	2,5	-0,07	10	-0,7
10	5	GM	Ruck, Robert	HUN	2515	2,5	0	10,25	0	0	1,5	-1,58	10	-15,8

Details

Round 9 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	5	2515	GM	Ruck, Robert		IM	Saydaliev, Saidakbar	2450	10
2	6	2490	GM	Abdisalimov, Abdimalik		GM	Atabayev, Saparmyrat	2517	4
3	7	2588	GM	Pichot, Alan		GM	Sychev, Klementy	2513	3
4	8	2489	GM	Chatalbashev, Boris		IM	Begmuratov, Khumoyun	2470	2
5	9	2474	GM	Nigmatov, Ortik		GM	Alekseev, Evgeny	2520	1

Details

Schedule

Every day from 19th to 26th June 2025, the round starts at 3 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Only the last round will start at 11 a.m. local time, 11:30 a.m. IST.

Links

Uzbekistan Chess Federation: Telegram, fb page and youtube

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