Uzbek grandmaster Abdusattorov kicks off Sigeman Chess Tournament with victory

Nodirbek Abdusattorov began his campaign at the TEPE Sigeman Chess Tournament with a victory, defeating Chinese grandmaster Ju Jiner in the opening round.

Playing with the black pieces, the Uzbek grandmaster secured the win in 37 moves, marking a confident start to the prestigious event.

In the second round, Abdusattorov is set to face American player Andy Woodward. One of the most anticipated matches will come in round three, where he will take on world number one Magnus Carlsen.

The tournament is being held from May 1 to 7 in Malmo and features a strong lineup of participants, including Arjun Erigaisi, Jorden van Foreest, Nils Grandelius, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, alongside Woodward and Ju Jiner.

The competition follows a round-robin format, with eight players competing across seven rounds. Games are played under classical time control, with 90 minutes allocated for the first 40 moves, an additional 30 minutes for the remainder of the game, and a 30-second increment per move starting from move one. The tournament also applies the “Malmo rules,” which prohibit players from agreeing to a draw before move 40.

Uzbek players have enjoyed recent success at the event, winning the tournament in the past two editions. Abdusattorov claimed the title in 2024, while Javokhir Sindarov secured victory in 2025.

Abdusattorov has also delivered strong performances in international competitions earlier this year. He won the Prague International Chess Festival 2026, becoming the first two-time champion of the tournament, and took third place at the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026 in Germany, earning a $40,000 prize.