Vokhidov punished a struggling Madaminov to claim the only win of round three at the UzChess Cup. The Uzbek duo battled in a queen endgame where Vokhidov seized his chance and converted decisively.
The result reshuffled the standings. Madaminov dropped out of clear first despite the draw-heavy round. He now shares the lead at 2/3 with Abdusattorov and Erigaisi, who each picked up draws. Four of the five games finished peaceful, giving players a breather midway through the event.
The pace tells you something about the field. Drawing with equals matters when you're building a tournament score. Vokhidov showed he won't settle for it, grinding out the advantage when the position demanded attack. That kind of execution separates winners from the rest, especially in an all-play-all format where every game carries weight.
With the field bunched at the top, the remaining rounds will determine who converts this crowded leaderboard into a victory. Abdusattorov and Erigaisi remain in the mix. Madaminov needs to bounce back fast.