Uzbek grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov emerged victorious at the Prague International Chess Festival 2026, held from February 25 to March 6 in Prague, Czech Republic. This marks his second championship title at this festival after winning in 2024, with him having skipped the 2025 edition. According to festival organizers, Abdusattorov has become the first-ever two-time Masters champion in the event's history, highlighting his consistent elite performance in international chess.
Abdusattorov reflected on his performance, stating: "Overall, I am very satisfied with my participation. I did not lose a single game and won three. In some situations, I had luck, but by defeating Vincent [German player Vincent Keymer], I gained more points because I had a good advantage. In short, I think this was a very balanced tournament for me." He also noted that the final stage started four hours earlier than usual, which he found beneficial as he is accustomed to being alert in the morning.
Tournament results show that Abdusattorov scored 6 points out of 9 opportunities, securing three wins and six draws. Among his victories was a game against the reigning world champion, Gukesh Dommaraju. In the ninth and final round, he played to a draw with American Hans Niemann using the white pieces, concluding on move 34. Dutch player Jorden van Forest, who had led for much of the tournament, lost his top position due to defeats in the last two rounds.
Second place went to Iranian Parham Maghsoodloo (5 points), while Indian Aravindh Chithambaram (5 points) took third. Another Uzbek representative, Nodirbek Yakubboev, finished sixth with 4.5 points. This victory represents Abdusattorov's third consecutive win in classical super-tournaments, following earlier successes at Tata Steel Chess 2026 and the London Chess Classic.
Based on the tournament outcomes, Abdusattorov accumulated 2780.3 points in the online rating, propelling him to fourth place in the global rankings. This achievement solidifies his standing as a top contender in the chess world and sets a strong foundation for future competitions.
Source: www.gazeta.uz