Madaminov continues his surprising run at the UzChess Cup after round two. The lowest-rated player in the tournament sits alone atop the standings at 2/2, having followed his upset victory over Nepomniachtchi with another win against Nikolas Theodorou. That's two straight decisive results in a field full of super-GMs.
Monday brought no draws. All five games ended decisively, creating a chaotic middle phase where rating means nothing. Abdusattorov and Erigaisi joined the winners' circle with victories of their own.
The tournament already has bite. Nepomniachtchi bounced back from his loss to Madaminov by winning round two, showing the resilience you expect from a 2700-plus player. Niemann also recovered with a victory, meaning the two highest-rated casualties have already stabilized.
What matters now is whether Madaminov can maintain this. The gap between him and the rest of the field is real, but momentum carries weight in tournament chess. The next rounds will test whether his hot start holds up against repeated attempts from stronger opposition, or if normal rating expectations reassert themselves.