3rd UzChess Cup Masters 2026: Nepo traps his knight to beat Niemann
Shamsiddin Vokhidov and Mukhiddin Madaminov head into the final round as coleaders at 3rd UzChess Cup Masters 2026.
Abdusattorov gets poetic justice?
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Ian Nepomniachtchi defeated Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Hans Niemann respectively. They both are now trailing the leaders by a half point at 4.5/8 each.
Challengers: GM Mahammad Muradli (AZE) defeated GM Saparmyrat Atabayev (TKM) to win the event with a round to spare. He is at 7/8, a staggering 2.5 points ahead of the rest.
Futures: The coleaderes, IM Khumoyun Begmuratov (UZB) and GM Rinat Jumabayev (KAZ) drew their game against each other. They maintained their lead at 6/8 each. GM Sergei Tiviakov (NED) and GM Sethuraman S P are at 5/8 each.
Fun fact: The penultimate round witnessed only decisive games in the Challengers section whereas all five games in the Future section ended in draws.
Nepomniachtchi – Niemann: 1-0
Ian Nepomniachtchi (2733) and Hans Niemann (USA, 2742) played a match against each other in Serbia before this event. It had ended in a 4-4 tie where both won a game each and the remaining six ended in draws. On the day zero of this event at players’ meeting and draw of lots, Nepomniachtchi shook all other Masters participants’ hands except Niemann. Of course there is a reason behind it. So it goes without saying that this match had a lot of anticipation irrespective of the tournament situation.
Nepomniachtchi deliberately self-trapped his knight 30.Nxa6! Of course it is not a mistake. White wants to get a few pawns for it. 30..Kc8 31.Kf4 Kb7 32.Ke5 Kxa6 33.Kxd5 Nf6+ 34.Kxc5 White certainly has more than enough compensation. 34…Ng4? 35.e4+- Nxh2 36.Kxb4 and White went on to win the game.
Madaminov – Arjun: 0.5-0.5
The only Classical rated game between Mukhiddin Madaminov (UZB, 2586) and Arjun Erigaisi (2761) ended in a draw at Asian Continental 2023. Madaminov got an advantage in the endgame. However, it was not easy to realize it and Arjun managed to salvage a draw.
Theodorou – Abdusattorov: 1-0
The only time Nikolas Theodorou (GRE, 2634) faced the World no.5, Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB, 2777) in a Classical rated game was at London Chess Classic last year. Abdusattorov won that encounter. This time the game was heading towards a draw. However, in a balanced position, Abdusattorov touched his king and while moving it he realized that his rook is threatened and there is no way for him to move the king without losing the rook. He resigned immediately. It almost seemed like a poetic justice after what Abdusattorov did against Nepomniachtchi in the fourth round.
Time Control
40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes for the rest of the game with 30 seconds increment starting frtom move one in Masters. For Challengers, Futures and Open, the time control is 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
Prizes
The total prize fund combining Masters, Challengers and Futures is US$ 215000. Masters has $150000, Challengers $50000 and Futures $15000.
Schedule
Every day from 7th to 15th June 2026, the round starts at 3 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Only the last round will start at 11 a.m. local time, 11:30 a.m. IST.
Replay Round 8 Masters games
Replay Round 8 Challengers games
Replay Round 8 Futures games
Masters Round 8 results
Standings after Round 8
Round 9 pairings
Challengers Round 8 results
Futures Round 8 results
Links
UzChess Cup: Official site, instagram and twitter
Uzbekistan Chess Federation: Telegram, Youtube, facebook and instagram
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