Early surprises mark opening rounds of Agzamov Memorial in Uzbekistan

3/18/2026 – The 19th Agzamov Memorial is under way in Tashkent, attracting over 300 players across two rating sections. Strong grandmasters such as Haik Martirosyan, Pouya Idani and S.L. Narayanan have begun with perfect scores, but early rounds have also produced notable upsets, with lower-seeded players joining the lead group. Held in honour of Uzbekistan's first grandmaster, the tournament continues a long-standing tradition. | Pictured: Ukrainian GM Vitaliy Bernadskiy | Photo: Uzbek Chess Federation