At the Tata Steel Chess 2026 tournament in Waik aan Zee, Netherlands, 8 rounds have passed, and the most pleasant sight is that two of our compatriots are in a row at the top of the table. Currently, Nodirbek Abdusattorov leads with 5.5 points, and Javokhir Sindarov is his closest pursuer with 5 points.
Now the fans' mood will shift to "maximum mode": within the framework of the 9th round, the central clash of the tournament - the Uzbek derby. Sindarov will play against Abdusattorov on the white piece, and the result of this game could shake not only the mood of the two chess players, but also the balance in the upper part of the entire tournament.
The mood of this derby is different: "just a draw" has a strategic meaning here. If the match ends in a draw, there is a high probability that the order in the top ranks will remain largely unchanged - meaning everyone will maintain their rhythm, risk will decrease, and there will be room for a "big attack" in subsequent rounds.
The game starts at 17:45 Tashkent time - and at this time, the mood of a football derby for chess enthusiasts in Uzbekistan shifts to the chessboard. In short, one thing is clear in today's debate: careful calculation, composure, and an unforgiving level - everything will be at its maximum.
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