2nd UzChess Cup R1: Sindarov stuns Nepomniachtchi
The second edition of UzChess Cup Masters 2025 is off to an excellent start. The stellar lineup promised exciting games and it did not let down anyone. The 44th Olympiad Gold medalist, Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) scored a huge win over Ian Nepomniachtchi. After missing the initial opportunity, Sindarov managed to capitalize on his opponent's later mistakes. Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) arrived at a lost position by move no.11 against Arjun Erigaisi. He could not recover and Arjun walked away with the full point. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) scored the only other victory of the round against Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB). The All-Indian clash between Aravindh Chithambaram and R Praggnanandhaa ended in a draw. Round 2 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed
Yakubboev implodes against Arjun, Aravindh draws with Praggnanandhaa
The entire chess universe is unison with the fact that Uzbekistan Chess Federation has managed to put up a strong and excellent mix of players. It was evident in the games and results of the first round. Masters section witnessed three decisive games, Challengers two and Futures one. Vitaly Sivuk (SWE) and Mukhiddin Madaminov (UZB) scored wins over Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR) and Nijat Abasov (AZE) respectively in the Challengers. Saparmyrat Atabayev (TKM) scored the sole win in the Futures against the highest rated player in the field, Alan Pichot (ESP).
Yakubboev - Arjun: 0-1
GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB, 2659) faced GM Arjun Erigaisi (2782) twice in Classical rated games. Arjun won the first one and the second one ended in a draw. Both occurred within a span of five months in 2023. The game started with 1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Bd3 e5 4.c3 Nbd7 5.Nf3 d5 6.dxe5 dxe4 7.exf6 exf3 8.fxg7 Bxg7 9.Qxf3 Ne5 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Qxb7??
11.Qxb7?? was not a good idea as White loses castling rights 12.Bxd7 Nd3+ 13.Kf1 Qxd7 Black has gained a substantial positional advantage. 14.Na3 Rfe8 15.Be3 Rab8 16.Qf3 Rxb2 and Black went on to win the game comfortably.
Aravindh - Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5
Aravindh Chithambaram (2749) once again had the white pieces against R Praggnanandhaa (2767), just like their last month's encounter in Jermuk, Armenia. The outcome was also the same.
Nepomniachtchi - Sindarov: 0-1
Ian Nepomniachtchi (2757) faced Javokhir Sindarov for the first time in a Classical rated game. Nepomniachtchi made a good exchange sacrifice to thwart his opponent's attack on the kingside.
Sindarov took it 18...Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Nhg6 20.Bc4 c6 21.h4 Qd7 22.g3 Nd5
22...Nh3+ 23.Kg2 Nxf2 probably would have finished the game slightly earlier. Black played 22...Nd5 23.Ba3 Rfe8 24.Bd6 Qh3 25.Nf1 Nxc3 26.Qd3 Nd5 27.Bxd5 cxd5 28.Qxd5 Qd7 29.N1d2 Qg4 30.Ne4 Nf4 31.Qxb7 here Black made an inaccuracy Nh3+? which gave an option for White to get back in the game.
32.Kf1 would have been fine for White. Instead, 32.Kg2? Nf4+ 33.Kg1 Black realized what he should have done earlier Rac8 34.Nh2? Bxf2+! the final blow and White's position crumbled in the next few moves.
For more Opening Ceremony and Round 1 photos, please click at the respective links.
Replay live stream
Replay Challengers Round 1 games
Replay Futures Round 1 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 1 results
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | White | Result | Black | Rtg | No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2749 | GM | Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr. | ½ - ½ | GM | Praggnanandhaa, R | 2767 | 10 | |||
| 2 | 2 | 2659 | GM | Yakubboev, Nodirbek | 0 - 1 | GM | Erigaisi, Arjun | 2782 | 9 | |||
| 3 | 3 | 2691 | GM | Maghsoodloo, Parham | ½ - ½ | GM | Rapport, Richard | 2714 | 8 | |||
| 4 | 4 | 2757 | GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | 0 - 1 | GM | Sindarov, Javokhir | 2710 | 7 | |||
| 5 | 5 | 2767 | GM | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | 1 - 0 | GM | Vokhidov, Shamsiddin | 2644 | 6 |
Standings after Round 1
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | w-we | K | rtg+/- | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | GM | Sindarov, Javokhir | UZB | 2710 | 1 | 0 | 0,00 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0,57 | 10 | 5,7 | |
| 9 | GM | Erigaisi, Arjun | IND | 2782 | 1 | 0 | 0,00 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0,33 | 10 | 3,3 | ||
| 3 | 5 | GM | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | UZB | 2767 | 1 | 0 | 0,00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0,33 | 10 | 3,3 | |
| 4 | 1 | GM | Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr. | IND | 2749 | 0,5 | 0 | 0,25 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 0,03 | 10 | 0,3 | |
| 3 | GM | Maghsoodloo, Parham | IRI | 2691 | 0,5 | 0 | 0,25 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | 0,03 | 10 | 0,3 | ||
| 8 | GM | Rapport, Richard | HUN | 2714 | 0,5 | 0 | 0,25 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | -0,03 | 10 | -0,3 | ||
| 10 | GM | Praggnanandhaa, R | IND | 2767 | 0,5 | 0 | 0,25 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 | -0,03 | 10 | -0,3 | ||
| 8 | 2 | GM | Yakubboev, Nodirbek | UZB | 2659 | 0 | 0 | 0,00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0,33 | 10 | -3,3 | |
| 4 | GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | FID | 2757 | 0 | 0 | 0,00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0,57 | 10 | -5,7 | ||
| 6 | GM | Vokhidov, Shamsiddin | UZB | 2644 | 0 | 0 | 0,00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0,33 | 10 | -3,3 |
Round 2 pairings
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | White | Result | Black | Rtg | No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 2767 | GM | Praggnanandhaa, R | GM | Vokhidov, Shamsiddin | 2644 | 6 | ||||
| 2 | 7 | 2710 | GM | Sindarov, Javokhir | GM | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | 2767 | 5 | ||||
| 3 | 8 | 2714 | GM | Rapport, Richard | GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | 2757 | 4 | ||||
| 4 | 9 | 2782 | GM | Erigaisi, Arjun | GM | Maghsoodloo, Parham | 2691 | 3 | ||||
| 5 | 1 | 2749 | GM | Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr. | GM | Yakubboev, Nodirbek | 2659 | 2 |
Challengers Round 1 results
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | White | Result | Black | Rtg | No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2613 | GM | Theodorou, Nikolas | ½ - ½ | GM | Hong, Andrew | 2589 | 10 | |||
| 2 | 2 | 2490 | IM | Suyarov, Mukhammadzokhid | ½ - ½ | GM | Ma, Qun | 2630 | 9 | |||
| 3 | 3 | 2522 | GM | Sivuk, Vitaly | 1 - 0 | GM | Ivanchuk, Vasyl | 2634 | 8 | |||
| 4 | 4 | 2536 | GM | Madaminov, Mukhiddin | 1 - 0 | GM | Abasov, Nijat | 2594 | 7 | |||
| 5 | 5 | 2370 | IM | Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim | ½ - ½ | GM | Vakhidov, Jakhongir | 2539 | 6 |
Futures Round 1 results
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | White | Result | Black | Rtg | No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2520 | GM | Alekseev, Evgeny | ½ - ½ | IM | Saydaliev, Saidakbar | 2450 | 10 | |||
| 2 | 2 | 2470 | IM | Begmuratov, Khumoyun | ½ - ½ | GM | Nigmatov, Ortik | 2474 | 9 | |||
| 3 | 3 | 2513 | GM | Sychev, Klementy | ½ - ½ | GM | Chatalbashev, Boris | 2489 | 8 | |||
| 4 | 4 | 2517 | GM | Atabayev, Saparmyrat | 1 - 0 | GM | Pichot, Alan | 2588 | 7 | |||
| 5 | 5 | 2515 | GM | Ruck, Robert | ½ - ½ | GM | Abdisalimov, Abdimalik | 2490 | 6 |
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
