The 2nd International Chess Tournament -"UzChess Cup" Challengers
10 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 18 Jun 2025 to 28 Jun 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 10 titled players from 7 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 2552, and top seed was Vasyl Ivanchuk (🇺🇦 UKR, GM, 2634).
Nikolas Theodorou (🇬🇷 GRE, GM, 2613) won with 6.5/9, ahead of Mukhiddin Madaminov (6.0) and Vasyl Ivanchuk (5.5). Theodorou won solo starting round 6.
The biggest upset came in round 1: Vitaly Sivuk (GM, 2522) beat Vasyl Ivanchuk (GM, 2634), a +112-point gap.
- 🥇
- 🥈
- 🥉
How it unfolded
Top 10 · 9 roundsGM Nikolas Theodorou led from R6 onwards, the runner-up race stayed tight. Title race converged from 2 co-leaders at R4 to 1 by R6.
GM Nikolas Theodorou held the sole lead from R6 through R9 without losing it.
GM Nikolas Theodorou beat GM Mukhiddin Madaminov (White).
GM Nikolas Theodorou won 3 in a row (R2–R4).
Cross-table
| # | Player | Elo | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pts | SB | Bh | Δ Elo | Perf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇬🇷GMTheodorou, Nikolas | 2613 | * | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6.5 | 27.50 | 38.5 | +11.9 | 2711 |
| 2 | 🇺🇿GMMadaminov, Mukhiddin | 2536 | 0 | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6.0 | 23.50 | 39.0 | +17.2 | 2678 |
| 3 | 🇺🇦GMIvanchuk, Vasyl | 2634 | 1 | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 5.5 | 24.75 | 39.5 | -0.8 | 2623 |
| 4 | 🇸🇪GMSivuk, Vitaly | 2522 | 0 | ½ | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5.5 | 22.00 | 39.5 | +14.1 | 2635 |
| 5 | 🇺🇸GMHong, Andrew | 2589 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 4.5 | 17.50 | 40.5 | -4.9 | 2548 |
| 7 | 🇨🇳GMMa, Qun | 2630 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4.0 | 16.50 | 41.0 | -15.3 | 2500 |
| 6 | 🇺🇿IMSuyarov, Mukhammadzokhid | 2490 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 4.0 | 15.25 | 41.0 | +3.4 | 2516 |
| 8 | 🇦🇿GMAbasov, Nijat | 2594 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 3.5 | 15.00 | 41.5 | -15.5 | 2467 |
| 9 | 🇺🇿IMTokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim | 2370 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | 3.0 | 13.75 | 42.0 | +8.0 | 2447 |
| 10 | 🇺🇿GMVakhidov, Jakhongir | 2539 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 2.5 | 10.75 | 42.5 | -18.1 | 2387 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
- 1Madaminov, MukhiddinGMUZB+17.26.0 pts · #2
- 2Sivuk, VitalyGMSWE+14.15.5 pts · #4
- 3Theodorou, NikolasGMGRE+11.96.5 pts · #1
- 1Vakhidov, JakhongirGMUZB-18.12.5 pts · #10
- 2Abasov, NijatGMAZE-15.53.5 pts · #8
- 3Ma, QunGMCHN-15.34.0 pts · #7
- R1+112 Elo gap
- R8+104 Elo gap