Uzchess Cup 2025, Rounds 1-3

So far, Abdusattorov is the Wizard of Uz.

The current BIG tournament in the chess world is the 2nd Uzchess Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and of course it features the country’s #1 player, Nodirbek Abdusattorov. For that matter, it also includes Uzbekistan’s #2 player, 19-year-old 2700+ player Javokhir Sindarov, #3 player Nodirbek Yakubboev, and #4 player Shamsiddin Vokhidov.

The foreign contingent is just as impressive, led by Arjun Erigaisi (#3 in the world at the start of the tournament; the same qualifier goes for the remaining players), Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (#7), two-time World Championship Challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi (#10), Chithambaram Aravindh (#11), Richard Rapport (#27), and Parham Maghsoodloo (#38).

After three rounds Abdusattorov leads with 2.5 points, half a point ahead of Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa, which isn’t particularly surprising, but also Sindarov, which is (slightly). There have been a few short draws but not too many, and overall the tournament has been lively - just what you’d expect given so many young and ambitious players. See for yourself - here are the games from the first three rounds, with my annotations.