Pragg joins lead, Parham wins @ 2nd Uzchess Cup
GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu defeated GM Sindarov Javokhir, moving into shared lead with GM Abdusattorov Nodirbek logging in 3.0 points after the fourth round of the 2nd Uzchess Cup at Tashkent. Sharing the third spot with 2.5 points were GMs Erigaisi Arjun and Maghsoodloo Parham respectively.
The Semi-Slav game between Pragg and Sindarov moved on theoretical lines until the Indian differed from the queen moves repetition with 29. Qd2, pressing for more. Deftly maneuvering his queen, rooks and bishops Pragg increased his advantage and ran the pawns down on the queen-side. Sindarov removing a white rook for his bishop did no damage to Pragg’s position as pawns proved unstoppable. Facing the inevitable the Uzbek GM resigned on the 45th move. The win propels Praggnanandhaa to World No. 5 in LIVE rankings one ELO shy of fellow Indian Erigaisi Arjun.
In a highly volatile Slav game, GM Maghsoodloo Parham overcame defending champion Yakubboev Nodirbek. It was all aggression by white from the word go and the host Grandmaster repeatedly threw caution to the winds. White’s run down on the king-side was well defended by Maghsoodloo who waited and executed a successful counter-attack. The exposed white monarch ran desperately to avoid mate from the queen and rook combo. But it was not to be, as Maghsoodloo played precisely to arrive at a mate in three when the Uzbek gave up.
The fifth round starts at 3 PM local time, 3:30 PM IST on Monday 23rd June, 2025.
(Round 4 Results): Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (3.0) beat Sindarov Javokhir (2.0), Rapport Richard (1.5) drew with Vokhidov Shamsiddin (1.0), Erigaisi Arjun (2.5) drew with Abdusattorov Nodirbek (3.0), Aravindh Chithambaram V R (1.5) drew with Nepomniachtchi Ian (1.5), Yakubboev Nodirbek (1.5) lost to Maghsoodloo Parham (2.5)
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (2767) – Sindarov Javokhir (2710) 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Qd3 Nbd7 6. Bf4 a6 7. e4 dxc4 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qe2 b4 10. Na4 Bb7 11. Rc1 Be7 12. Nd2 c5 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. dxc5 Rc8 15. Be3 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Qg4 Bb7 18. Qxb4 Qc7 19. f3 O-O 20. Be2 a5 21. Qa3 Bc6 22. O-O Bf6 23. Rc2 a4 24. Rb1 Qe5 25. Qc3 Qf5 26. Qd3 Qe5 27. Qc3 Qf5 28. Qd3 Qe5 29. Qd2 Rfd8 30. Qc1 Qh5? (30…Rb8 was better)
31. b4 axb3 32. axb3 Be5 33. h3 Qg6 34. b4 Qg3 35. b5 Bd5 36. Kf1 f5 37. Bg1 Be4 38. b6 Bf4 39. Qb2 Be5 40. Qb3 Bxc2 41. Qxc2 Kh8 42. c6 Qf4 43. Qc1 Qa4 44. c7 Rg8 45. Qc5 1-0
Yakkuboev Nodirbek (2659) – Maghsoodloo Parham (2691) 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8. Ne5 a5 9. h4 e6 10. f3 h6 11. e4 Bh7 12. Be3 Nfd7 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. Bc4 Bb4 15. Kf2 e5 16. d5 O-O 17. g4 Kh8 18. dxc6 bxc6 19. Ne2 Bg8 20. b3 Bc5 21. Qc1 Qb6 22. Rd1 Rad8 23. Ng3 f6 24. Bxg8 Rxg8 25. Nf5 Qxb3 26. g5 fxg5 27. hxg5 Bxe3+ 28. Nxe3 Rgf8 29. gxh6 g6 30. Ra3 Qe6 31. Rad3 Qh3 32. Nf1 Rf4 33. Ke1?? (33. Kg1! appears risky, but holds the position)
33…Rdf8 34. Kd2 Rxf3 35. Rxf3 Rxf3 36. Qc4 Rf2+ 37. Ke1 Qh4 38. Rd2 Rf4+ 39. Kd1 Rxe4 40. Qf7 Re1+ 41. Kc2 Qxa4+ 42. Kb2 Qa1+ 0-1
Picture Courtesy : Tata Steel Chess 2025
Official Telegram page
