GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov won the 2022 Vugar Gashimov Memorial on Thursday with such a commanding lead that he clinched the tournament victory with five rounds to spare. GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov finished second with the top score in the blitz segment. 

The Gashimov Memorial is dedicated to the late GM Vugar Gashimov, who reached sixth in the world rankings at his peak. The organizers make a special effort to celebrate the memory of the Azerbaijani grandmaster, opening the tournament with Gashimov’s father making the ceremonial first move on board one for GM Wang Hao vs. top seed, Mamedyarov.

♟In the first round of rapid games of the Vugar Gashimov Memorial 2022, the first move of the game beetween https://t.co/MJ3gr6Zm2o and S. Mamedyarov was made by Gasim Gashimov. (Father of Vugar Gashimov) pic.twitter.com/O6XJlwUQi9

— Gashimov Chess (@GashimovC) December 18, 2022

In addition, the participants visited Gashimov’s grave in the Alley of Honors on the rest day. 

▪️Today participants of the “Vugar Gashimov Memorial -2022 visited the grave of grandmaster Vugar Gashimov in the Alley of Honors.

▪️Bugün Vüqar Həşimov Memorialı 2022-nin iştirakçıları II Fəxri Xiyabanda Vüqar Həşimovu ziyarət etdilər.#gashimovchess2022 #vugargashimov #ches pic.twitter.com/yq0kkxL8f1

— Gashimov Chess (@GashimovC) December 21, 2022

Abdusattorov scored 25.5 points, finishing a full five points ahead of the field. He especially excelled in the rapid segment, going undefeated in nine rounds―a fitting result for the reigning world rapid champion. In round three, he defeated Mamedyarov, trapping his opponent’s rook in the center of the board with his potent bishop pair and then squeezing in the resulting pawn-up ending. 

Abdusattorov defeated another one of his closest competitiors, Mamedov, in a 76-move duel between his extra piece and his opponent’s perilous advanced passers. 

The rising 18-year-old grandmaster has little time to rest after his victory as he embarked on defending his world rapid title today in Almaty, Kazakhstan. 

Mamedyarov struck back against the young tournament victor in the blitz segment with a perceptive piece regrouping in round 12. 

Fellow countryman, Mamedov, finished third. In the last round, after a tactical attempt by GM Richard Rapport went awry, Mamedov unleashed his fianchettoed bishop for a deadly discovered attack. This victory allowed Mamedov to leapfrog past his opponent on the final scoreboard.

Rapport was in clear second up to one round from the finish. In the penultimate round, he defeated Abdusattorov with an artful bishop sacrifice to generate a king attack nearly out of thin air. He ultimately finished fourth.

I’m back in beautiful Baku to be part of this year’s Vugar Gashimov Memorial.
It’s good to know that friends will be friends, and Legends will live on!

If you are here as well, don’t forget to look up at the Flame Towers from 05:30 pm. I’ve recorded a glimpse of it:@GashimovC pic.twitter.com/yYB97V4e8J

— Rapport Richard (@rjrapport) December 17, 2022

And the closing ceremony! We witnessed a magnificent and breathtaking tournament. 😊Thanks to everyone!😊 See you, 2023! ♟🖤 pic.twitter.com/c01FaHavfl

— Gashimov Chess (@GashimovC) December 23, 2022

Final Standings 

All Games

The Vugar Gashimov Memorial takes place December 17-24, 2022, in Baku, Azerbaijan. It is a super tournament held in honor of the late GM Vugar Gashimov. The format is a round-robin with 10 players, nine rounds of rapid followed by 18 rounds of blitz. The rapid time control is 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment while the blitz is three minutes plus a two-second increment. Official website.