Nodirbek Abdusattorov added to his rising popularity as one of many world’s high gamers final weekend when the Uzbek grandmaster, 21, triumphed within the “chess Wimbledon” at Tata Metal Wijk aan Zee, together with his compatriot Javokhir Sindarov a detailed second.
On his earlier three makes an attempt Abdusattorov, who has now surged to No 5 within the stay scores, had missed out within the ultimate decisive rounds. This time he led early, had a wobble with three attracts and a loss, however was sturdy within the ultimate two rounds. “It was a great distance for me,” he mentioned. “I used to be very shut each time and I failed 12 months after 12 months. I’m extraordinarily pleased to lastly be capable to win this event and to win in a really good type.”
In 2023 he had led with a spherical to go, however misplaced within the ultimate spherical to Jorden van Foreest. He was crushed in a four-way playoff received by Wei Yi in 2024; and was knocked out of rivalry by Arjun Erigaisi within the penultimate spherical in 2025.
How a lot, if something, he received stays a secret, for Wijk aan Zee prefers to distribute its funds through beneficiant look charges reasonably than money prizes. {Many professional} gamers desire that.
In Abdusattorov’s penultimate round victory, he systematically demolished Matthias Blübaum’s rickety king defences, whereas in the final round he reacted solidly when Erigaisi opened with the full of life Evans Gambit 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4?!, progressively took the initiative, and received a 55-move ending.
It was the Uzbek’s second main success in a month, following his victory within the London Chess Traditional in December. As the present world No 5, Abdusattorov was unfortunate to not qualify for the eight-player Candidates to be staged in Cyprus in March, however at 21 and with a two-year qualifying cycle his likelihood will certainly come.
His severe and hard-working strategy is harking back to the Soviet chess patriarch Mikhail Botvinnik, whose chess autobiography “Reaching the Intention” revealed a scientific strategy to successful the world championship. Borvinnik was stimulated by his epic rivalry together with his compatriot Vasily Smyslov.
Equally, Abdusattov’s improved latest outcomes might have been aided by the advance of Sindarov, who has now reached No 11 within the stay scores and can be a risk within the Candidates to the US favourites Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana.
Remaining main scores have been Abdusattorov 9, Sindarov 8.5, van Foreest (Netherlands), Hans Niemann (US) and Vincent Keymer (Germany) 7.5, Blübaum (Germany) and Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (Turkey) 7.
The 4 Indian gamers had a tough time, ending in locations 10-13 with the world champion, Gukesh Dommaraju one of the best on 6.5, or 50%. Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu did worse, and each plummeted down the world rankings.
Abdusattotov may have one other check subsequent week when he’s among the many eight gamers within the first Fide Freestyle world championship on 13-15 February at Weissenhaus, Germany, the place the highest seed is Norway’s world No 1, Magnus Carlsen, making his first look of the 12 months. Different rivals are the US’s world No 3, Caruana, fellow Individuals Levon Aronian and Niemann, Germany’s world No 4, Keymer, Erigaisi and Sindarov. Abdusattorov was not among the many authentic invitees however certified from a web-based event open to all titled gamers.
Erdogmus, 14, is the youngest ever 2600-rated participant, and is now closing in on the 2700 mark, the place he would beat the earlier data set by China’s Wei Yi at 15 years 9 months and Magnus Carlsen at 16 years 4 months. He had a blip at Wijk the place he misplaced two video games in a row and dropped to a 50% whole after 11 rounds, however recovered strongly subsequent day by checkmating his opponent, who was himself poised to ship mate within the ultimate place. Erdogmus seems the true deal, a possible world No 1 within the 2030s.
The Challengers, whose winner qualifies for the 2027 Masters, led to victory for 15-year-old Andy Woodward (US) with 10/13, forward of the previous world No 2 Vasyl Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 9.5 and Aylin Suleymanli (Azerbaijan) 9. The youngest participant, Argentina’s Faustino Oro, scored 7.
The Netflix documentary Queen of Chess which is being launched on Friday is the true life story of the all-time greatest girl participant, Judit Polgar, and particularly of her encounters with the then world No 1 Garry Kasparov. For severe chess followers, this seems from the trailer a extra fascinating watch than even the extensively acclaimed The Queen’s Gambit. It’s prone to revisit the controversy of Linares 1994, when a video replay confirmed that the then world champion Kasparov had taken again a knight transfer, and it wlll additionally present Polgat’s victory agains him within the Remainder of the World v Russia match in 2002.
4010: 1 Nxh6! gxh6 2 Rxe6! (2 Qg6+? Kh8 3 Qxh6+ Rh7 and a pair of Rg6? Qxf4+ each favour Black) Qxe6 (2…Rxe6? 3 Qg6+ and 4 Qg7 mate ) 3 Rg6 Kh8 4 Rxh6+ Kg7 5 Qg6+ Kf8 6 Rh8+ Qg8 7 Rxg8 mate.
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