Winners of Zakovat-Gambit Chess Tournament awarded
An awards ceremony honoring the winners of the Zakovat-Gambit chess tournament took place at the Uzbekfilm pavilion in Tashkent.
The qualifying stage of this prestigious competition lasted six days and drew nearly 6,000 chess players, including 633 women. The tournament featured qualifying rounds, semifinals, and finals. The final stage took place over two days at the Zakovat Arena in Tashkent, with participants competing in nine rounds.
According to Alisher Sadullayev, Director of the Youth Affairs Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the tournament, held for the fifth time this year, also brought together talented young people from remote villages across all 14 regions of the country. The competition’s total prize fund totaled 620 million UZS.
Another highlight of the tournament was the participation of world-renowned chess stars Hungarian Grandmaster Peter Leko and Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy as guests of honor. They played simultaneous exhibition games against young Uzbek chess players and shared their experiences.
At the awards ceremony, winners in all categories received cash prizes. Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan, attended the event and presented the awards to the winners.
In each category, first-place winners received 50 million UZS, second-place finishers received 30 million UZS, and third-place winners received 20 million UZS. The top-performing female chess player in each category also received a cash prize of 20 million UZS. In addition, the tournament’s youngest participant, eight-year-old Mustafo Pulatov, and its oldest competitor, 63-year-old Grandmaster Toir Vohidov, each received a special incentive prize of 10 million UZS.
According to the final results, Muhammadzohid Suyarov took first place in Group A, followed by Humoyun Begmuratov in second and Jahongir Vohidov in third. Afruza Hamdamova was named the Best Female Player in the category. In Group B, Asrorjon Omonov claimed first place, with Sadullo Azizov and Alisher Begmuratov finishing second and third, respectively. Umida Omonova was named Best Female Player in the group.
In Group C, Sayyid Usmon Shamsiddin took first place, with Muhammaddiyor Mahamadullayev and Temur Shavkatov finishing second and third, respectively. Ozoda Shahzodova was named the best female player in the group. In Group D, Nurmuhammad Nematillakhonov claimed first place, followed by Shohjahon Mamatsalayev in second and Ikromjon Halilov in third. Odina Olimova received the Best Female Player award. Finally, in Group E, Azamat Ahmedov secured first place, Firdavs Ramazonov finished second, and Qurbonali Tursunboyev took third. Madina Tukhtayeva was named Best Female Player in the group.
Gulnoza Boboyeva, UzA
