Nodirbek Yu Yangyi Secures Victory in the 3rd Edition of the Qatar Masters International Chess Championship
Doha, October 20 – Uzbek chess prodigy Nodirbek Yu Yangyi emerged as the champion in the third edition of the Qatar Masters International Chess Championship. The tournament concluded today at the Losail Sports Arena after nine days of intense competition, featuring some of the world’s top-ranked players.
In a thrilling showdown, Yu Yangyi managed to triumph over his compatriot Nodirbek Abdusattorov in a tie-breaking round, following their neck-and-neck performance with both players holding 7 points each after the ninth round. The Indian chess sensation, Arjun Erigaisi, with 6 points, was another strong contender but couldn’t seize the title.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the other Uzbek player, secured the second-place spot by defeating the 6th-ranked Indian, Arjun Erigaisi, making him the top performer among the fifth-seeded participants, and he is just 19 years old, managing to accumulate 7 points in 9 rounds.
In the women’s category, the Grandmaster from India, Vaishali Rameshbabu, clinched the title with 5 points.
This international chess championship, following the Swiss system format with 9 rounds (90 minutes per round with a 30-second increment), attracted 250 players representing 45 countries, including 62 Grandmasters from 16 Arab nations.
The total prize pool for the Qatar Masters International Chess Championship was $120,000.
In local chess talent, Qatar’s Grandmaster Hussain Aziz, ranked 141 in the tournament, faced a tough challenge in the ninth and final round against India’s Antonio Viani, who was ranked 91 in the competition. Aziz, however, ended with 3 points, securing the 134th position.
Aziz had encountered a series of ups and downs throughout the tournament, including a loss against Vietnam’s Gia Huy Ban and a win against India’s Gaivir Mahendra, with several draws in between.
World-renowned Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who is ranked number one globally, ended his participation in the tournament with a draw against the 16th-ranked Indian, Abhimanyu Puranik.
Mr. Hamad Al Tamimi, the Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Association and the Director of the Qatar Masters International Championship, expressed his satisfaction with the exciting conclusion of the event, noting the prevalence of surprises throughout the competition, including the crowning of a new champion.
He stated, “Over the course of 9 days, the rounds were full of excitement, and many top-ranked players were vying for the title until the penultimate round. I believe the championship has delivered on its promises, and everyone appreciated the atmosphere.”
Mr. Mohammed Nasser Al Sayed, a member of the Qatar Chess Association’s Board of Directors and a Grandmaster, emphasized the abundance of surprises in the Qatar Masters Championship, highlighting the unique and well-organized atmosphere both in terms of gameplay and logistics.
He added, “Although Magnus Carlsen of Norway is out of the title race, his presence added significant value to the tournament at the global level. American player Hikaru Nakamura, ranked third worldwide, also put up a strong fight until the very end but faced significant challenges against top-ranked players.”
In conclusion, Mr. Nodirbek Gubayev, the Uzbek champion of the tournament, expressed his delight in securing the title and acknowledged the fierce competition due to the presence of some of the world’s best chess players. He mentioned, “I am fortunate to win the title here in Qatar, and I want to thank everyone who supported and stood by me during the past phase. I will continue to exert more effort to maintain this level.”
Parallel to the Qatar Masters, the International “B” Championship also concluded, featuring 94 players rated below 2300 points.
