Top 3 (L to R): 2nd GM Sanan Sjugirov (HUN) 7.5/10, 1st GM Nihal Sarin 8/10 and 3rd GM Abhimanyu Puranik 7.5/10 | Photo: Uzbekistan Chess Federation

GM Nihal Sarin drew against GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB) to win 18th Tashkent Open, Agzamov Memorial 2025 Open A (≥1800). He finished a half point ahead of the rest as both GM Abhimanyu Puranik and GM Sanan Sjugirov (HUN) drew their games against GM Aleksandar Indjic (SRB) and GM S L Narayanan respectively. Sanan secured second place and Abhimanyu third according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was US$ 75000. The top three prizes were US$ 20000, 10000 and 7000 along with a trophy each. GM Aditya Mittal is the only other Indian to make a top ten finish. He scored 7/10 to finish tenth. This was Nihal’s first Classical rating tournament in 2025 and he won it convincingly. Photo: Uzbekistan Chess Federation

Nihal wins two consecutive tournaments in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

The last Standard rating tournament Nihal Sarin won was 3rd President Cup in November 2024 in Uzbekistan. He started 2025 by winning the first Standard rating tournament he played. WFM Shubhi Gupta became the top female performer. She scored 6/10 to finish 44th overall and first among female participants

Top 3 Women (L to R): 2nd WFM Tatyana Getman 5.5/10, 1st WFM Shubhi Gupta 6/10 and 3rd WFM Varvara Poliakova 5.5/10 | Photo: Uzbekistan Chess Federation

A total of 153 players including 20 GMs, 32 IMs, a WIM took part from 15 countries across the world in Open A (≥1800). The ten day ten-round Swiss league rating tournament was organized by Uzbekistan Chess Federation at International Chess Academy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 20th to 29th March. It had a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.