WEISSENHAUS, January 21. /Dunyo IA/. Uzbekistan’s young grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov has claimed victory in the “Play-In” qualifying tournament hosted on the international platform “Chess.com”, securing a place in the final of the FIDE “Freestyle Chess” World Championship, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

In the final of the qualifying stage, the Uzbek grandmaster faced a formidable opponent from India, Pranav Venkatesh. Demonstrating exceptional skill, strategic precision and composure under pressure, Nodirbek Abdusattorov secured a convincing 2-0 victory, thereby becoming the final player to qualify for the tournament’s main stage.

The FIDE “Freestyle Chess” World Championship, scheduled to take place on 13-15 February in the German city of Weissenhaus, will bring together eight of the world’s strongest chess players, who will compete for the sport’s top prize. Notably, the elite line-up includes two grandmasters from Uzbekistan, underscoring the country’s growing prominence in international chess. Alongside Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the field features Javokhir Sindarov, a young multiple national champion and a consistent performer in major international tournaments. They will be joined by a distinguished group of global chess heavyweights: Magnus Carlsen from Norway, Fabiano Caruana from the United States, Levon Aronian from Armenia, Arjun Erigaisi from India, Vincent Keymer from Germany and Hans Niemann from the United States. The championship is expected to draw significant international attention, as established legends and rising stars converge in a highly competitive and innovative format that continues to reshape the modern chess landscape.

This tournament marks the first official World Championship to be held in cooperation with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and “Freestyle Chess”. Based on the Fischer Random Chess (Chess960) format, the competition features randomly drawn starting positions for the pieces, eliminating reliance on established opening theory. As a result, players are required not only to demonstrate deep chess understanding, but also a high degree of creativity, adaptability and rapid decision-making, qualities that are increasingly seen as defining attributes of modern elite chess.

According to experts, the participation of two young Uzbek grandmasters in a competition of such exceptional stature is a tangible outcome of the strong institutional focus and comprehensive reforms aimed at developing chess in Uzbekistan, implemented under the leadership of the Head of State.

Uzbek chess players are no strangers to this elite format. At the “Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge”, held in Germany in February 2024, they captured the attention of German spectators and international analysts alike, impressing audiences with their dynamic, confident and imaginative play and further cementing Uzbekistan’s reputation as an emerging force in world chess.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov delivered a series of phenomenal performances, defeating both the reigning and former World Champions - Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren - during the group stage to emerge as the sole leader of the standings.

By doing so, the Uzbek grandmaster firmly established himself as one of the most formidable contenders in “Freestyle Chess”, drawing the close attention of international experts with his ability to make rapid, unconventional decisions in unpredictable positions. His uncompromising approach and fearless play against world-class opponents, including Ian Nepomniachtchi and Levon Aronian, further highlighted his status among the elite of modern chess.

The participation of Uzbek chess players in the forthcoming championship in Germany is expected to command significant interest from the international sporting community and millions of fans worldwide, placing Uzbekistan’s rising chess generation firmly in the global spotlight.