Rubinstein Memorial: Yakubboev sole leader, as Bluebaum and Kovalenko explore interesting line and draw

by Stefan Liebig
8/23/2025 – For a long time in the seventh round, Matthias Bluebaum had real chances of scoring a win and getting closer to leader Nodirbek Yakubboev in the standings – but in the end, the two-time European champion remains a full point behind the Uzbek grandmaster. On Saturday, the two will play each other, and Bluebaum must win with black to catch him in the lead. Radoslaw Wojtaszek and David Navara will be keeping their fingers crossed for him, as both are also one point behind the leader. | Photo: Lennart Ootes (Chess Olympiad 2022)
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Round 7

Matthias Bluebaum remains unbeaten at the Rubinstein Memorial in Polanica Zdroj. Nevertheless, he will feel somewhat regretful, as he had a promising, albeit difficult, position against Igor Kovalenko. The Ukrainian grandmaster played a well-known, early piece sacrifice that has been employed by a number of legendary players in the past.

Kovalenko held the draw after a long battle.

Like Radoslaw Wojtaszek and David Navara, who are also among the closest chasers, Bluebaum had been hoping for some help from bottom-placed Michael Adams. However, the Englishman's misfortune at the Rubinstein Memorial continued. Yakubboev, with rook and a minor piece in an inferior position, scored a win. This victory put him firmly in the lead. If he manages to score against Bluebaum in Saturday's penultimate round, tournament victory will almost certainly be his.

David Navara, after five draws at the start of the event, scored his second consecutive win in round seven. This full point against Mateusz Bartel brought him into shared second place. He now faces Aravindh Chithambaram in round eight, who drew with Wojtaszek on Friday. Wojtaszek will be Navara's opponent in the final round. An exciting conclusion to the tournament lies ahead, particularly as Yakubboev still has to face the thus far unbeaten Kovalenko in the last round.

Round 7 results

Standings after round 7:

Rg. Name Pkt.  TB1 
1 Yakubboev, Nodirbek 5,5 0
2 Navara, David 4,5 0
3 Bluebaum, Matthias 4,5 0
4 Wojtaszek, Radoslaw 4,5 0
5 Kovalenko, Igor 3,5 0
6 Bartel, Mateusz 3 2
7 Aravindh, Chithambaram VR. 3 1
8 Klimkowski, Jan 2,5 2
9 Teclaf, Pawel 2,5 2
10 Adams, Michael 1,5 0

All games

Links

Stefan Liebig, born in 1974, is a journalist and co-owner of a marketing agency. He now lives in Barterode near Göttingen. At the age of five, strange pieces on his neighbour’s shelf aroused his curiosity. Since then, the game of chess has cast a spell over him. Flying high in the NRW youth league with his home club SV Bad Laasphe and several appearances in the second division team of Tempo Göttingen were highlights for the former youth South Westphalia champion.