Vokhidov and Madaminov hold the top spots at the UzChess Cup with 0.5 points to spare going into the final round. Both drew on Sunday, leaving the door open for challengers.
Nepomniachtchi and Mamedyarov seized the opportunity. Each scored wins to close the gap to within striking distance of the leaders. The two strong grandmasters now sit just a half point behind with everything to play for.
Theodorou picked up a victory against Abdusattorov in an endgame. The Uzbek player fell victim to the touch-move rule in a position that looked level, a costly mistake at this stage of the tournament.
The title fight stays wide open. With only one round remaining, any of the top four players can still win outright. Vokhidov and Madaminov hold the advantage, but Nepomniachtchi and Mamedyarov proved they won't go quietly. The final round begins at 8.00 CEST, an hour earlier than previous sessions, which could affect preparation and rhythm for the leaders hunting their first move.