The third UzChess Cup concluded on Monday with a surprise victory by Mukhiddin Madaminov, the tournament's lowest seed, who defeated Shamsiddin Vokhidov, the second-lowest rated competitor, in a blitz playoff to secure the title. The event highlighted the depth of Uzbek chess talent, featuring two top performers from the country alongside the two Nodirbeks, Abdusattorov and Yakubboev, occupying the middle standings.
The competition took place over nine rounds in Tashkent, with Madaminov demonstrating an uneven but ultimately effective performance. He began the tournament strongly, claiming wins over Ian Nepomniachtchi and Nikolas Theodorou. However, he then fell behind after losses to his fellow Uzbek players Vokhidov and Yakubboev. Madaminov recovered fiercely in later rounds, amassing an impressive 5 out of 6 points against foreign opponents, though his record against the other three Uzbek players was less successful (0.5/3). Vokhidov showed steady consistency, opening with a draw against Arjun Erigaisi and a loss to Hans Niemann before winning three consecutive games against Madaminov, Theodorou, and Nepomniachtchi. He concluded the tournament with four draws.
Final standings placed Madaminov and Vokhidov tied for first with 5.5 points out of 9, followed closely by Arjun Erigaisi, Nepomniachtchi, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, each scoring 5 points. Nodirbek Abdusattorov finished slightly behind at 4.5 points, while Hans Niemann and Yakubboev scored 4, Vidit Gujrathi earned 3.5, and Theodorou concluded with 3 points.
Notably, Abdusattorov missed a chance to finish tied for third after an unfortunate blunder in the penultimate round against Theodorou. In a dead-equal endgame, he inadvertently touched his king while his rook was undefended, forcing an immediate resignation.
Madaminov, who is a childhood friend of Javokhir Sindarov and serves as one of Sindarov’s seconds, also featured in a key game against Vidit Gujrathi that attracted analytical attention. Playing the Ruy López Berlin Defence, the match showcased complex positional and tactical struggles. Early inaccuracies by Black, including a misplaced knight move, allowed White to consolidate a superior position. As the game progressed, White's king found security while Black’s king became increasingly vulnerable. Ultimately, Gujrathi resigned after move 63 due to White’s overwhelming threats, with subsequent queen checks decisively winning the game.
The competition underscored the strength and rising prominence of Uzbek players on the international stage, with an intense battle not only among the country's top grandmasters but also showcasing resilient performances from established international opponents.