Uz Chess Cup 2025: History, Highlights and more

What is the Uz Chess Cup 2025?

The UzChess Cup is a prestigious international chess festival held annually in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Organized by the Uzbekistan Chess Federation and supported by FIDE, the 2nd edition ran from June 18–28, 2025 at the Kitob Olami coworking center and International Chess Academy. It features three elite 10-player round‑robins—Masters, Challengers, and Futures—plus an Open Swiss event.

The UzChess Cup features a $105,000 prize fund, with $80,000 going to the master’s and $25,000 to the Challengers. The Masters section, the highlight of the festival, offers a $80,000 prize fund and is part of the FIDE Circuit; the outright winner secures about 26.63 circuit points.

Tournament format & time control

Format: 10 players, single round‑robin, 9 classical rounds
Time control: 90 min for 40 moves + 30 min to finish, with 30-sec increment from move 1. No draws allowed before move 30.

Star-Studded Line-Up

The Masters group featured a thrilling blend of Uzbek heroes and international elite:

Player	Federation	Elo
GM Arjun Erigaisi	IND	2782
GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov	UZB	2767
GM R. Praggnanandhaa	IND	2767
GM Ian Nepomniachtchi	FIDE	2757
GM Aravindh Chithambaram	IND	2749
GM Richard Rapport	HUN	2714
GM Javokhir Sindarov	UZB	2710
GM Parham Maghsoodloo	IRI	2691
GM Nodirbek Yakubboev	UZB	2659
GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov	UZB	2644

(Parham Maghsoodloo replaced Pentala Harikrishna in the lineup).

The average rating was a staggering 2726, rivaling major tournaments like Tata Steel.

How It Unfolded

Brilliant Rounds 1–5

Round 1 saw significant upsets: Sindarov downed Nepomniachtchi; Arjun crushed defending champion Yakubboev early.
By round 5, Abdusattorov held a solo lead with 4/5, going 3/3 with White .
Maghsoodloo and Arjun sat just half a point behind after impressive wins—Maghsoodloo over Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun over Vokhidov.

Round 6 Drama

A six-hour epic saw Yakubboev best Abdusattorov in 132 moves, while Rapport stunned Praggnanandhaa with a sacrificial finish.
As a result, Abdusattorov, Arjun, and Maghsoodloo shared the lead on 4/6, each undefeated.

Final Stretch (Rounds 7–9)

With three remaining rounds, the race remained wide open. Round 7 promises to be pivotal, featuring key clashes such as Maghsoodloo vs. Abdusattorov.

Why It Matters

This tournament is part of the prestigious FIDE Circuit, offering critical ranking points for potential Candidates qualification.
It spotlights Uzbekistan’s chess surge, showcasing four Uzbek grandmasters in the elite field and promoting chess as part of cultural growth.
It gives global fans live super‑tournament action outside traditional venues like Wijk aan Zee.

Viewing & Coverage

Live daily broadcasts at 15:00 local (GMT+5) via Chess.com, Chess24, ChessBase, and tournament’s official streams.
Hosts include FM Shakhzod Vakhidov and WGM Keti Tsatsalishvili.

History of chess in Uzbekistan

Chess in Uzbekistan dates back to ancient times, with chess-like artifacts found near Samarkand from the 1st–8th centuries AD. The game flourished during the Timurid era and was revived under Soviet rule with strong national championships. Uzbekistan produced its first Grandmaster, Georgy Agzamov, in 1984. After independence, the country saw a chess resurgence, winning international titles like the 2022 Chess Olympiad. Government support and youth programs have positioned Uzbekistan as a global chess powerhouse today. Read more History of Chess and the Rise of Chess in Uzbekistan

Chess in Uzbekistan Today

State support & popularization
Chess is part of school curricula, supported by public-private initiatives, widespread youth camps, and regular scholastic competitions.

Olympiad success
In 2022, the Uzbek national team claimed gold at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai—an unprecedented achievement.

Major events hosted
Uzbekistan has successfully organized Olympiads and super tournaments, including the recent UzChess Cup and preparations for the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Tashkent.