Two wins with white, one draw with black
Nodirbek Abdusattorov has taken the sole lead at the Masters section of the UzChess Cup after scoring the only decisive result in round three. The top-rated player from the tournament's host country defeated Richard Rapport with the white pieces, reaching 2½ points. Abdusattorov has adopted a consistent strategy so far: he beat Shamsiddin Vokhidov in round one and now Rapport in round three, both with white, while holding a solid 42-move draw with black against Javokhir Sindarov in round two.
Three players trail Abdusattorov by half a point: Javokhir Sindarov, Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. Each has scored one win and two draws, maintaining an undefeated record. With six rounds still to go, the tournament remains wide open.
Round 3 results
In this course, we will learn how to identify passively placed pieces in any given situation and how to improve their health by bringing them into active squares.
The Masters section during round three | Photo: Shahid Ahmed
The only decisive game of the day saw Abdusattorov navigating his way through a sharp line in the Sicilian Defence. Facing Rapport's 1...c5, the Uzbek grandmaster opted for an aggressive setup, pushing 10.g4 – a line previously used by the ever-creative Alexander Morozevich against a then 15-year-old Alireza Firouzja during the 2018 World Rapid Championship. That historical encounter ended in a draw, but it illustrated the potential dynamism of the variation.
In contrast to Firouzja's choice of 10...Nc4, Rapport played the top engine recommendation, 10...d5, after spending 11 minutes to reach this decision.
Instead of continuing with the central advance 11.e5, which would have grabbed space and kept the tension, Abdusattorov opted for the sharper 11.dxe5. This led to a sequence of semi-forcing moves, beginning with 11...Bb4 and continuing 12.dxe6.
Here, White had the alternative of castling (12.0-0), but Abdusattorov chose the riskier continuation, signalling his intentions to play for a win. After 12...Nxb3 13.cxb3 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qxc3+ 15.Kf2 Bxe6 16.Nxe6 fxe6, the players reached a materially balanced yet dynamic position with White's king unable to castle.
Rapport's play in the opening was effective, as the resulting position is objectively equal, but Abdusattorov had successfully created an asymmetrical setup, allowing for practical chances.
A series of simplifications followed over the next eleven moves. The position evolved into an endgame with opposite minor pieces - a bishop for Abdusattorov and a knight for Rapport -with pawns on both wings. Despite the apparent balance, key positional factors began to favour White, while notably, Rapport fell behind on the clock: after 27...Nc6, he had only 16 minutes remaining, while Abdusattorov still had 45.
In a complex position where subtle manoeuvres could tip the balance, the time discrepancy proved critical.
The bishop, with open diagonals and targets on both sides of the board, began to outplay the knight, particularly as the pawn structure offered few stable outposts for Black. Rapport entered time trouble and faltered on move 36 with an inaccuracy. His decisive mistake came two moves later, with 38...a5.
The preferable alternative was 38...b4, which would have fixed White's pawns on light squares and allowed Black some counterplay by attacking them with the knight. Even though White would eventually get a kingside passed pawn, Black would have better chances to complicate matters on the queenside.
After Rapport's error, Abdusattorov took control with methodical play. His technique in the final phase of the game was exemplary. The climax came with the elegant sequence 53.Bxg5 Kxg5 54.Bf6, which both defended the critical a1-square and set up a winning tactical pattern.
Experts examine the games of Max Euwe. Let them show you which openings Euwe chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were, which tactical abilities he had or how he outplayed his opponents in the endgame.
Max Euwe became the fifth World Chess Champion after beating Alexander Alekhine in the 1935 World Championship match. A maths teacher by profession, Euwe remained an amateur throughout his life, but was still the best chess player in the Netherlands, and one of the world's best players. Euwe holds the record for the most Dutch national championships, with twelve. After winning the World Championship, Euwe was also the world's best player for a while. He lost the title again in 1937 in the rematch against Alexander Alekhine.
Free video sample: Openings
If Black proceeds with 54...Kxf6, then 55.h7 a1Q allows 56.h8Q+, and White captures the promoted queen next. Rapport resigned without allowing this line to appear on the board.
The key game of the round is about to start | Photo: Shahid Ahmed
Standings after round 3
All games
Challengers: Three co-leaders after exciting round
Master your Technique Vol. 2 is a must-have for ambitious players who want to confidently convert “better” positions, or turn equal ones into wins.
After laying the groundwork of positional excellence in Volume 1, Volume 2 dives even deeper into the technical core of practical play. This new training course focuses on converting advantages, handling typical endgame imbalances, and mastering essential attacking and defensive techniques. Whether you‘re up a pawn, or striving for activity in a simplified position, the right technique makes all the difference.
Free video sample: Precise Endgame Technique
Free video sample: The Power of Double Attack
Four out of five games ended decisively in the third round of the Challengers tournament. Particularly entertaining from the spectators' point of view was Andrew Hong's win with black over Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov. Hong is now sharing the lead with Nikolas Theodorou and Mukhiddin Madaminov, each with 2½ points.
The third round in progress | Photo: Shahid Ahmed
Round 3 results
Standings after round 3
All games
Futures: Nigmatov sole leader
Much like in the Masters, the Futures tournament has a sole leader with 2½ points, as Uzbek GM Ortik Nigmatov grabbed his second consecutive win on Saturday to move into first place.
Round 3 results
Standings after round 3
All games
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