Uzbekistan's leading chess player, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, is successfully continuing his run in the Chess.com Open 2026 online tournament, demonstrating confident play.
The total prize fund of this prestigious tournament is $250,000 USD. At the same time, the competition also serves as a qualifying stage for the Esports World Cup 2026 world championship, which further intensifies the competition.
Abdusattorov, representing the NAVI team, initially faced misfortune against Belarus's Denis Lazavik, forcing him to continue through the losers' bracket. However, this did not dampen his spirits; on the contrary, he fully displayed his potential in subsequent games.
In the second round, he defeated experienced Russian player Ian Nepomniachtchi 1.5:0.5 and advanced to the next stage. In the third round, he played against strong French opponent Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, securing a 1.5:0.5 victory. This result was significant not only for advancing but also as a form of revenge for the Uzbekistani chess player, as this opponent had previously eliminated Javokhir Sindarov from the tournament.
Now, Abdusattorov will face talented Indian chess player Nihal Sarin in the quarterfinals. This crucial match is scheduled to begin on April 25 at 8:15 p.m. Tashkent time. The winner of this encounter will compete against Denis Lazavik or Iran's Movahed in the semifinals.
The tournament is being held in the "10+0" (rapid) format, and a participant who loses twice is eliminated from the championship race. The chess player who reaches the grand final through the losers' bracket will face world star Magnus Carlsen.
It is worth noting that in the 2025 Esports World Cup, Nodirbek Abdusattorov took 5th place, winning $85,000 in prize money. Javokhir Sindarov, who finished his participation in the group stage, was also awarded $50,000.
In short, Abdusattorov's current form and confident play indicate his potential to conquer even greater heights. All attention is now on the quarterfinals!
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