Sindarov stuns Nepo, Erigaisi & Abdusattorov win @ 2nd Uzchess Cup

GMs Erigaisi Arjun, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov took early lead winning their 1st round games in the 2nd Uzchess Cup at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Praggnanandhaa – Aravindh, Maghsoodloo – Rapport games ended in draws. Two of the four home stars made the news in the inaugural round. GM Sindarov brought down former World Championship Challenger Nepomniachtchi, while GM Abdusattorov accounted for fellow Uzbek GM Vokhidov Shamsiddin. This nine round tournament runs without a break and concludes on 27th June, 2025.

Uzbek talent Sindarov aced his way to a fine win over World Blitz Co-Champion Nepomniachtchi in an interesting Italian game. The was going steady until white’s 21. h4? which gave huge chances to Sindarov. Not one to miss the opportunity, the Uzbek GM pulverized the Russian with accurate moves winding up the game on the 42nd turn. It was a methodical Sindarov who made in-roads into Nepo’s kingside, even as he flung his queen, knight and rook completing a famous win.

Former world rapid champion Abdusattorov moved into joint lead thanks to a comfortable victory over his countryman Vokhidov. Employing the King’s Knight Opening Abdusattorov showed clear ELO superiority over Yakubboev with his simple yet powerful moves. The middle-game saw Shamsiddin slip with 27…Ne6? after which Abdusattorov gave very little chance, converting the queen and rook ending with ease.

The first game to conclude turned out to be a miniature win for Indian Grandmaster Erigaisi Arjun, who deployed the Pirc defence with great felicity. With a slightly greedy pawn capture on the 11th move Yakubboev conceded a huge positional advantage to black. Arjun further snared white’s queen for a knight and rook, bringing the king out of safety. Weaving the queen and bishop combo with finesse, the Indian World No. 4 smoothly converted the ensuing position, taking an early lead in the tournament.

The second round starts at 3 PM local time, 3:30 PM IST on Friday 20th June, 2025.

(Round 1 Results): Aravindh Chithambaram V R drew with Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Yakubboev Nodirbek lost to Erigaisi Arjun, Maghsoodloo Parham drew with Rapport Richard, Nepomniachtchi Ian lost to Sindarov Javokhir, Abdusattorov Nodirbek beat Vokhidov Shamsiddin.

Yakubboev Nodirbek (2659) – Erigaisi Arjun (2782) 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?? (Position after 11.Qxb7??. Former world champion Bobby Fischer hinted never take the queen knight pawn with the queen. The poisoned pawn. Curious that Grandmasters fall for this even after 64 years since Fischer)

11…O-O! 12. Bxd7 Nd3+ 13. Kf1 Qxd7 14. Na3 Rfe8 15. Be3 Rab8 16. Qf3 Rxb2 17. Nc4 Rc2 18. Rd1 Qa4 19. Nd2 Rxa2 20. h3 Ra1 21. Ke2 Nf4+ 22. Qxf4 Qxf4 23. Rxa1 Bxc3 24. Rxa7 Qg5 25. Nc4 Qb5 26. Kd3 Qb3 0-1

Abdusattorov Nodirbek (2767) – Vokhidov Shamsiddin (2644) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O h6 7. h3 O-O 8. Nc3 a5 9. Kh2 Be6 10. Nd2 d5 11. f4 exf4 12. gxf4 dxe4 13. dxe4 Nd4 14. Nb3 Nxb3 15. axb3 c6 16. Qe2 Re8 17. Bf3 Nd7 18. Bd2 f5 19. e5 Nf8 20. Na4 Ba7 21. Be3 Bxe3 22. Qxe3 Bf7 23. Be2 b5 24. Rad1 Qe7 25. Nc5 Rad8 26. Rg1 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Ne6? (27…g5 is better for survival)

28. Nxe6 Bxe6 29. Rd6 Bd5 30. Bxb5 cxb5 31. Rxd5 Rc8 32. c3 a4 33. Rxb5 a3 34. bxa3 Qxa3 35. Qd2 Qa1 36. e6 Qf1 37. c4 Ra8 38. e7 Kh7 39. Rxf5 Qb1 40. Rd5 1-0

Nepomniachtchi Ian (2757) – Sindarov Javokhir (2710) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 d6 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 a5 9. Nbd2 Bb6 10. a4 Be6 11. b3 d5 12. Bb5 Ne7 13. exd5 Nfxd5 14. Qc2 Ng6 15. d4 Ndf4 16. dxe5 Nh4 17. Bf1 Bd5 18. Re4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Nhg6 20. Bc4 c6 21. h4? (A blunder. 21. Ba3 holds the position)

21… Qd7 22. g3?! 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 Nh3+?? 32. Kg2?? (32.Kf1 was the best choice here) Nf4+ 33. Kg1 Rac8 34. Nh2 Bxf2+ 35. Kh1 Qe2 36. Nxf2 Qxf2 37. Rf1 Qe2 38. Qf3 Rc2 39. Qxe2 Nxe2 40. Kg2 Rec8 41. b4 axb4 42. Bxb4 Nf4+ 0-1

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