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Local representatives Nodirbek Yakubboev, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov are occupying the three top spots in the standings of the UzChess Cup in Tashkent. Abdusattorov beat Yu Yangyi in round 6 to catch Yakubboev in the lead, while Sindarov signed a quick draw with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov to go into the final three rounds of the event in sole third place, as the only player standing a half point behind his compatriots.
The three Uzbek GMs played on boards 1, 2 and 3 for the national team that grabbed gold at the 2022 Chess Olympiad. Coached by Ivan Sokolov, the Uzbek squad entered the Olympiad as the 14th seeds, and outscored teams as strong as the United States, India and Norway (led by world number one Magnus Carlsen). In Tashkent, Yakubboev and Sindarov are the two lowest-rated participants, as the only players with a rating below 2700.
A half point further back stand Yu, Richard Rapport and Alexey Sarana. Coincidentally, all three players sharing fourth place will play with the black pieces in two out of the three remaining rounds of the event.
Javokhir Sindarov
