A dominating performance
Round eight of the London Chess Classic confirmed Nodirbek Abdusattorov as the tournament winner with one round to spare. The Uzbek grandmaster, who had dominated the Elite Tournament from the outset, entered the day with 6½ points after an exceptional run of six straight wins following his draw in the opening round. His two-point lead over Alireza Firouzja meant that a draw in their direct encounter would be enough to secure outright victory.
Despite the favourable situation, Abdusattorov did not approach the game with safety as his sole priority. The early middlegame produced a sharp and double-edged position, with both players navigating complex tactical and strategic features. As the struggle developed, Abdusattorov handled the complications more convincingly than his opponent and gradually obtained the better chances.
At that moment, however, the tournament leader chose not to press further. Instead, he forced a perpetual check, ensuring a draw that kept his two-point advantage intact. With this result, Abdusattorov clinched the title before the final round, completing a commanding performance that saw him outdistance the rest of the field well before the event's conclusion.
The game between Firouzja and Abdusattorov was the only draw of the day. All remaining encounters in round eight ended decisively, contributing to a lively penultimate day in London.
Round 8 results
Firouzja ½-½ Abdusattorov
Grandmaster Dr. Karsten Müller, one of the world’s leading endgame experts, guides you step by step through everything you need to know in this second volume.
Picture this: you’ve outplayed your opponent move by move, you’re clearly better – and then the endgame slips into a draw, simply because you lacked the crucial theoretical knowledge. That is exactly where this course comes in. Without solid endgame skills, there’s no way forward. Rook endgames are most essential: they occur more often than any other type of endgame, and often make the difference between victory and half a point. If you master them, you’ll confidently convert your advantages into wins!
Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: Bodycheck
Maroroa Jones 1-0 Mishra
Analysis by Karsten Müller and Zoran Petronijevic
In this video course, Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov explores the fascinating world of King’s Indian and Pirc structures with colours reversed, often arising from the French or Sicilian.
The King’s Indian Defence is one of the most dynamic openings in chess - and Pirc structures share much of the same DNA. With colours reversed (the King’s Indian Attack), these setups can be just as powerful. What may look modest at first often transforms into highly complex middlegames, where timing, precision, and a deep feel for dynamics make all the difference.
Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: Misplaced Pieces
Standings after round 8
All games
EXPAND YOUR CHESS HORIZONS
Data, plans, practice – the new Opening Report In ChessBase there are always attempts to show the typical plans of an opening variation. In the age of engines, chess is much more concrete than previously thought. But amateurs in particular love openings with clear plans, see the London System. In ChessBase ’26, three functions deal with the display of plans. The new opening report examines which piece moves or pawn advances are significant for each important variation. In the reference search you can now see on the board where the pieces usually go. If you start the new Monte Carlo analysis, the board also shows the most common figure paths.
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