GM Shant Sargsyan (Armenia) came as the winner of the 14th Tashkent Open, Agzamov Memorial.

The event took place from 15th August to 23rd August 2021 in the capital of Uzbekistan and brought together 151 chess players from 12 countries, including 20 grandmasters and 11 international masters. The 9-round competition, officiated by the Chief Arbiter Husan Turdialiev, was played over the board in two groups – group A rated 1800 and above and group B for the participants with a rating below 1800. The total prize fund of the event reached $25,000.

The tournament was organized by Uzbekistan Chess Federation in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Uzbekistan and supported by the FIDE Aid Package to open tournaments.

Shant Sargsyan (pictured above) completed the competition undefeated and finished clear first, scoring 7 of 9 points. His main competitor, a local favourite Nodirbek Yakkuboev was coming into the final round sharing the top position with the eventual champion but fell to Misratdin Iskandarov and had to settle for fifth place.

Six players tied finished a half-point behind the winner with another local hero Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) and Muhammad Khusenkhojaev (Tajikistan) taking second and third prizes respectively thanks to better tiebreaks (performance).

Final standings:

Akbarali Abdukhakimov (Uzbekistan) won the tournament in category B.

During a closing ceremony, the prize winners were awarded by Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Chairman of Uzbekistan Chess Federation, and Mr. Sheikh Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Mualla, President of Arab Chess Federation, President of the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club.