Arjun, Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh set to face World's best at 2nd UzChess Cup Masters
Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram will make their debut at 2nd UzChess Cup Masters 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The World no.3, Arjun is the highest rated player in the field. Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) is the defending champion. The remaining six participants in the Masters are - Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB), Ian Nepomniachtchi, Richard Rapport (HUN), Javokhir Sindarov (UZB), Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) and Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB). The tournament will take place at Panarams Hotel in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 19th to 27th June. The total prize fund of the tournament is US$ 121500. Masters has $80000, Challengers $25000, Futures $11500 and Open $5000. Round 1 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed
Aravindh vs Praggnanandhaa in Round 1
The Masters section has an average rating of 2724. It goes without saying that it is an extremely strong tournament. Former World Rapid Champion, the legend, GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR) is the top seed in the Challengers section. The average rating in Challengers is 2552. GM Alan Pichot (ESP) is the top seed in the Futures section. The average in that event is 2503.
Players
World no.3 - Arjun Erigaisi, World no.6 - Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB), World no.7 - R Praggnanandhaa, World no.10 and World Blitz 2024 Cochampion - Ian Nepomniachtchi, World no. 11 - Aravindh Chithambaram, World no.27 - Richard Rapport (HUN), World no.29 - Javokhir Sindarov (UZB), World no.38 - Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI), defending champion and World no. 65 - Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB), the winner of the Challengers event in 2024 and World no.81 - Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB).
For more Technical Meeting and Draw of Lots photos, please click at the respective links.
Time Control
90 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game with 30 seconds increment starting from move one in Masters. For Challengers, Futures and Open, the time control is 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
Prizes
The total prize fund is US$ 121500. Masters has $80000, Challengers $25000, Futures $11500 and Open $5000.
Masters Round 1 pairings
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | White | Result | Black | Rtg | No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2749 | GM | Aravindh, Chithambaram Vr. | GM | Praggnanandhaa, R | 2767 | 10 | ||||
| 2 | 2 | 2659 | GM | Yakubboev, Nodirbek | GM | Erigaisi, Arjun | 2782 | 9 | ||||
| 3 | 3 | 2691 | GM | Maghsoodloo, Parham | GM | Rapport, Richard | 2714 | 8 | ||||
| 4 | 4 | 2757 | GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | GM | Sindarov, Javokhir | 2710 | 7 | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 2767 | GM | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | GM | Vokhidov, Shamsiddin | 2644 | 6 |
Challengers Round 1 pairings
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | White | Result | Black | Rtg | No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2613 | GM | Theodorou, Nikolas | GM | Hong, Andrew | 2589 | 10 | ||||
| 2 | 2 | 2490 | IM | Suyarov, Mukhammadzokhid | GM | Ma, Qun | 2630 | 9 | ||||
| 3 | 3 | 2522 | GM | Sivuk, Vitaly | GM | Ivanchuk, Vasyl | 2634 | 8 | ||||
| 4 | 4 | 2536 | GM | Madaminov, Mukhiddin | GM | Abasov, Nijat | 2594 | 7 | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 2370 | IM | Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim | GM | Vakhidov, Jakhongir | 2539 | 6 |
Futures Round 1 pairings
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | White | Result | Black | Rtg | No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2520 | GM | Alekseev, Evgeny | IM | Saydaliev, Saidakbar | 2450 | 10 | ||||
| 2 | 2 | 2470 | IM | Begmuratov, Khumoyun | GM | Nigmatov, Ortik | 2474 | 9 | ||||
| 3 | 3 | 2513 | GM | Sychev, Klementy | GM | Chatalbashev, Boris | 2489 | 8 | ||||
| 4 | 4 | 2517 | GM | Atabayev, Saparmyrat | GM | Pichot, Alan | 2588 | 7 | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 2515 | GM | Ruck, Robert | 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
