4th President Cup Masters 2025 R6: Nihal overpushes against Madaminov, pays a heavy price

by Shahid Ahmed - 10/12/2025

Nihal Sarin overpushed against Mukhiddin Madaminov (UZB) and paid a heavy price at 4th International President Cup 2025 Masters. Nihal sacrificed a pawn in the early stage of the game. He had enough compensation for it. In the double rook and minor piece endgame, Nihal tried too hard to score a win, sacrificed another pawn to gain some activity and it cost him the game. Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB) defeated Bardiya Daneshvar (IRI). Both Madaminov and Vokhidov are the new coleaders 4.5/6. Nihal is the sole player trailing them by a half point at 4/6. Alexander Grischuk scored his first win of the event against Maxime Lagarde (FRA). Round 7 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Alimurod / UzChess



Vokhidov is the coleader of Mukhiddin

The ten-player nine-round, Round-Robin Super tournament will take place from 4th to 12th December 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Mukhiddin - Nihal: 1-0

This was the first time GM Mukhiddin Madaminov (UZB, 2552) was facing GM Nihal Sarin (2701) in a Classical rated game. Fresh off of working with GM Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) as his second for the FIDE World Cup 2025, it goes without saying that Mukhiddin's confidence is at an all-time high.

Position after 11...0-0

Nihal decided to give up the pawn 11...0-0 which is fine. 12.Nxc6 Qe8 13.Nb4 now Black needed to recover it 13...Nxe4 14.Re1 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qe5. The game continued 13...Rb8 14.a3 Bb5 15.Nxb5 Qxb5 16.f3 Qxa6 17.Nxa6 Rb6 Black had enough compensation for the pawn. In the rook and knight vs rook and bishop, Black tried to overpush, sacrificed another pawn and things did not work out for him.

GM Mukhiddin Madaminov (UZB) defeated GM Nihal Sarin to get in the lead | Photo: Alimurod / UzChess
Replay Round 6 live commentary | Video: UzChess

Replay Round 6 games

Round 6 results

Bo.No.Rtg WhiteResultBlack RtgNo.PGN
1102561
GMAbdisalimov, Abdimalik½ - ½GMKuzubov, Yuriy
26108PGN
292654
GMGrischuk, Alexander1 - 0GMLagarde, Maxime
26087PGN
312665
GMSargsyan, Shant½ - ½GMSvane, Frederik
26536PGN
422552
GMMadaminov, Mukhiddin1 - 0GMNihal, Sarin
27015PGN
532600
GMDaneshvar, Bardiya0 - 1GMVokhidov, Shamsiddin
26414PGN

Details

Standings after Round 6

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5 w-weKrtg+/-
12
GMMadaminov, MukhiddinUZB25524,5013,25302,52,191021,9
24
GMVokhidov, ShamsiddinUZB26414,5012,253121,281012,8
35
GMNihal, SarinIND2701409,753010,36103,6
41
GMSargsyan, ShantARM2665309,25101,5-0,3810-3,8
53
GMDaneshvar, BardiyaIRI2600307,751010,12101,2
67
GMLagarde, MaximeFRA26082,506,25100,5-0,2710-2,7
76
GMSvane, FrederikGER26532,505,75100,5-0,6610-6,6
88
GMKuzubov, YuriyUKR2610215,75100,5-0,8610-8,6
910
GMAbdisalimov, AbdimalikUZB2561215000,5-0,5510-5,5
109
GMGrischuk, AlexanderFID2654236101-1,2310-12,3

Details

Round 7 pairings

Bo.No.Rtg WhiteResultBlack RtgNo.PGN
142641
GMVokhidov, ShamsiddinGMAbdisalimov, Abdimalik
256110
252701
GMNihal, SarinGMDaneshvar, Bardiya
26003
362653
GMSvane, FrederikGMMadaminov, Mukhiddin
25522
472608
GMLagarde, MaximeGMSargsyan, Shant
26651
582610
GMKuzubov, YuriyGMGrischuk, Alexander
26549

Details

Links

Uzbekistan Chess Federation : Official site, Telegram and fb page

Tournament Regulations



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