Pragg joins leaders @ 2nd Uzchess Cup
GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (1.5/2) joined GMs Erigaisi Arjun, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov in the lead after winning his 2nd round game against local star GM Vokhidov Shamsiddin in the 2nd Uzchess Cup at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Half a point behind at 1.0 point were GMs Rapport, Maghsoodloo and Yakubboev respectively. The games between Sindarov vs Abdusattorov, Rapport vs Nepomniachtchi and Erigaisi vs Maghsoodloo ended in draws.
GM Praggnanandhaa won his game in style against host GM Vokhidov Shamsiddin in a miniature English Opening game. The Indian Grandmaster with a LIVE rating of 2777.2 now moves to World No. 5 in LIVE rankings ahead of World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, below fellow Indian GM Erigaisi Arjun. Pragg’s opening phase appeared to moving soberly, when Vokhidov slipped going for an extra piece. The Uzbek GMs knight grab with 19…gxh5 effectively tilted the game in white’s favor. Securing the position he wanted Pragg crashed through black’s kingside wrapping up the game in 33 moves. The win took the Indian Grandmaster into joint lead, while keeping Vokhidov in the bottom of the table.
In a surprise, in-form Indian GM Aravindh Chithambaram went down to defending champion Yakubboev Nodirbek. The Queen’s pawn game saw Aravindh taking a risk too many in the middle-game. Preferring to keep the king in the thick of action with 18. Kd2 backfired, as Aravindh failed to capitalize on black’s blunder 19…Nxb2 on the very next move. The Uzbek GM made no further mistake, finishing the game with a winning king and pawn ending, adding a famous scalp to his list of best results.
The 3rd round starts at 3 PM local time, 3:30 PM IST on Saturday 21st June, 2025.
(Round 2 Results): Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (1.5) beat Vokhidov Shamsiddin (0), Sindarov Javokhir (1.5) drew with Abdusattorov Nodirbek (1.5), Rapport Richard (1.0) drew with Nepomniachtchi Ian (0.5), Erigaisi Arjun (1.5) drew with Maghsoodloo Parham (1.0), Aravindh Chithambaram V R (0.5) lost to Yakubboev Nodirbek (1.0)
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (2767) – Vokhidov Shamsiddin (2644) 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. g3 Bb4 4. e4 d6 5. d3 Nc6 6. h3 a6 7. Ne2 b5 8. Bg2 Rb8 9. O-O Bc5 10. Rb1 O-O 11. Kh2 h6 12. f4 bxc4 13. dxc4 Nd4 14. f5 a5 15. g4 Ba6 16. b3 c6 17. Ng3 Nh7 18. Nh5 g6 19. Bxh6 gxh5? (A blunder. 19…Qh4 was the best)
20. g5 Kh8 21. Qxh5 Rg8 22. g6 fxg6 23. fxg6 Rb7 24. Rf7 Rxf7 25. gxf7 Rg7 26. Rf1 Qf8 27. Bxg7+ Kxg7 28. h4 Bc8 29. Bh3 Bxh3 30. Rg1+ Kf6 31. Rg8 Qxf7 32. Qh6+ Ke7 33. Rg7 1-0
Aravindh Chithambaram V R (2749) – Yakubboev Nodirbek (2659) 1. d4 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Nf3 Bf5 4. Nh4 Bd7 5. Bg2 c5 6. c4 e6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nc3 Bc6 9. Nxd5 Bxd5 10. e4 Bc6 11. d5 Bb5 12. e5 exd5 13. Bxd5 Qd7 14. Be3 Nc6 15. Be4 Nxe5 16. Qxd7+ Kxd7 17. Bxb7 Nd3+ 18. Kd2 Rb8 19. Bd5 Nxb2 20. Rhc1 Be7 21. Rab1 Bc4 22. Be4 Rhd8 23. Nf3 Ke6+ 24. Kc2 f5 25. Ng5+ Bxg5 26. Bxg5 Na4 27. Bxd8 Rxd8 28. Bc6 Bd3+ 29. Kb3 Rb8+ 30. Kxa4 Rxb1 31. Rxc5 Rb2 32. Bd5+ Kd6 33. Ra5 Rxf2 34. Bb3 Ke7 35. Rxa7+ Kf6 36. Rf7+ Kg6 37. Rd7 Be4 38. Kb4 Rxh2 39. a4 Rb2 40. Re7 Kf6 41. Re6+ Kg5 42. Re5?? (42. Re7 might still save the day) 42…Bc2 43. Re3 f4 44. Rc3 Rxb3+ 45. Rxb3 Bxb3 46. gxf4+ Kxf4 47. Kxb3
47…Ke5 0-1
Picture Courtesy : Official Telegram page
