Ian Nepomniachtchi Dominates Vugar Gashimov Memorial, Richard Rapport Struggles

Ian Nepomniachtchi emerged victorious in the Vugar Gashimov Memorial, showcasing his fast style of play and finishing one point ahead of rising star Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The tournament saw Nepomniachtchi’s dominance as he outplayed his opponents, with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov trailing behind by two points.

However, the tournament was not without its surprises. Richard Rapport, who started strong and was tied for the lead after Day 1, struggled to maintain his momentum. Despite a couple of wins in Blitz, Rapport faced multiple losses and ended up sharing the bottom two spots with Rauf Mamedov.

ChessBase India caught up with Nepomniachtchi after his victory, where he shared his thoughts on the tournament and his strategy.

The final standings after 14 rounds of blitz saw Abdusattorov in second place, followed by Chithambaram Vr. Aravindh, Aydin Suleymanli, and Mamedyarov. Rapport and Mamedov found themselves at the bottom of the standings.

In the rapid rounds, Nepomniachtchi continued his impressive performance, securing the top spot with Mamedyarov and Abdusattorov close behind. Rapport, Artemiev, Suleymanli, Aravindh, and Mamedov rounded out the standings.

Overall, Nepomniachtchi’s consistent play in both rapid and blitz secured his victory in the tournament, with wins in rapid counting for two points. Fans can relive the exciting moments of the Vugar Gashimov Memorial on the tournament page.