Nodirbek Abdusattorov won the Prague Chess Festival 2026, claiming his second major title in less than two months. The Uzbek GM finished on 6.5/8, a point and a half ahead of second-placed David Navara.
The pattern in his victories is always the same. Precise openings, small advantages, endgame conversion before opponents realize they are losing. Three games in Prague followed that exact script.
His best game came in round six against Daniil Dubov. Dubov tried to complicate a Sicilian in the way he always does. Abdusattorov avoided the complications, steered to a rook endgame a pawn up, and won in 58 moves. Against Dubov, that is not supposed to be possible.
Navara was the only player to really test him. Their round four game was the closest Abdusattorov came to dropping a point all week. He held a difficult queen endgame for 90 moves and eventually won on time pressure.
"Nodirbek is the best player in the world right now," Navara said after the event. Not Carlsen. Abdusattorov. Coming from the home player at his own festival, that carries weight. Abdusattorov is now ranked second in the world on the live rating list. The Candidates Tournament opens in one week.