Abdusattorov & Sindarov in-charge @ 2nd Uzchess Cup
Uzbek stars Abdusattorov Nodirbek (5.5) and Sindarov Javokhir (5.0) lead the title charge after the 8th and penultimate round of the 2nd Uzchess Cup at Tashkent. Keeping close company at 4.5 points were Indian Grandmaster duo Erigaisi Arjun and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. Depending the final round result any of the above four could have a shot at the play-off or the title. The exciting day’s play produced three results viz., Pragg 1-0 Erigaisi, Aravindh 0-1 Rapport, Maghsoodloo 0-1 Vokhidov while two other games viz., Nepo – Abdusattorov, Yakubboev – Sindarov ended in draws.
GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu continued his positive result over fellow Indian GM Erigaisi Arjun. Having defeated Erigaisi in Tata Steel Wijk aan Zee earlier this year, Pragg repeated his victory in a fine game today. Having stemmed the twin loss with a draw yesterday, Pragg chose the English Opening in extending his domination over his Olympiad mate. A an early knight retreat with 6. Ne2 should have puzzled Erigaisi who was unable to find answer’s to white’s subtle plans. As white continued to press for more Erigaisi found himself in deeper trouble. The fluency of white’s pieces which occupied strategic squares did black in, forcing Erigaisi to give up on the 29th turn. In the end, black’s weakness in the diagonals and back ranks was way too much to handle. A confident win for Pragg, who has positioned himself well for the final round juggernaut against Abdusattorov.
GM Vokhidov Shamsiddin, who played a big role in securing the team bronze medal with his individual board gold medal performance for Uzbekistan in the Budapest Olympiad 2024, scored his first win at the cost of GM Maghsoodloo Parham, who lost his second game in a row.
Rejuvenated Hungarian GM Richard Rapport added to the woe’s of GM Aravindh Chithambaram giving the Indian his fourth painful loss of the event. Crucial final round pairings are: Abdusattorov – Pragg, Vokhidov – Nepo, Sindarov – Maghsoodloo, Rapport – Yakubboev, Erigaisi – Aravindh.
The 9th and final round starts four hours early at 11 AM local time 11:30 AM IST on Friday 27th June, 2025.
(Round 8 Results): Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (4.5) beat Erigaisi Arjun (4.5), Aravindh Chithambaram V R (2.0) lost to Rapport Richard (4.0), Yakubboev Nodirbek (4.0) drew with Sindarov Javokhir (5.0), Maghsoodloo Parham (4.0) lost to Vokhidov Shamsiddin (3.0), Nepomniachtchi Ian (3.5) drew with Abdusattorov Nodirbek (5.5)
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (2767) – Erigaisi Arjun (2782) 1. c4 g6 2. e4 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Ne2 d6 7. Nbc3 f5 8. exf5 Bxf5 9. Ng3 Be6 10. Be2 Nge7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 d5 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Bc4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Kh7 17. Bc5 Rf4? (better was 17…Re8)
18. Bb3 b6 19. Ba3 Na5 20. c4 Nf6 21. Qc1 Rh4 22. Re1 Qg8 23. Qc3 Qf7 24. Rxe6 Qxe6 25. Re1 Ne4 26. Qc2 Re8 27. f3 Qe5 28. Nxe4 Qxh2+ 29. Kf2 1-0
Aravindh Chithambaram (2749) – Rapport Richard (2714) 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 Nc6 8. Be3 d6 9. N1d2 Nf6 10. O-O Bxe3 11. Qxe3 O-O 12. Rfd1 Qc7 13. c4 Nb4 14. Nf3 e5 15. a3 Nc6 16. h3 Be6 17. Nbd2 Nh5 18. Bf1 Nf4 19. Rac1 Qe7 20. g3 Ng6 21. b4 Rad8 22. Bg2 h6 23. Re1 Rd7 24. Kh2 Qd8 25. Bf1 Nge7 26. b5 axb5 27. cxb5 Na5 28. Nc4 f5 29. Nfd2? (29…Nxa5 is the saving move)
29…Nxc4 30. Bxc4 Bxc4 31. Rxc4 Kh8 32. Kg2 d5 33. exd5 Nxd5 34. Qe2 e4 35. Nf1 f4 36. Qxe4 fxg3 37. fxg3 Re7 38. Qb1 Ref7 39. Kg1 Qd7 40. Qd3 Rf3 41. Qe2 Qxh3 42. Rd4 Rxg3+ 43. Nxg3 Qxg3+ 44. Kh1 Rf2 0-1
Maghsoodloo Parham (2691) – Vokhidov Shamsiddin (2644) 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 Bc5 6. e3 O-O 7. a3 e4 8. Nh4 d6 9. b4 Bb6 10. Bb2 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Ne5 12. Qc2 f5 13. Be2 Bd7 14. O-O Qe7 15. f4 exf3 16. Nxf3 f4 17. gxf4 Rxf4 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Kh1 Rh4 20. Rf2 Qd6 21. Bc4 Rf8 22. Raf1 Rf6 23. Rf3 Be8 24. Qc1? (24. Rg3=)
24…Bg6 25. Rg3 Be4+ 26. Kg1 Rg6 27. Qe1 Rh3 28. Bxe5 Qxe5 29. d6+ Bd5 30. Bxd5+ Qxd5 0-1
Picture Courtesy: Abdusattorov Facebook page
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