GM Mukhiddin Madaminov claimed the 2026 UzChess Cup Masters title on June 15 after defeating GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov 2-0 in blitz tiebreaks. Both players ended the round-robin with 5.5 points out of nine games.
The victory earned Madaminov $20,000 and marked his first title in the event. He entered as a late replacement for GM Javokhir Sindarov and secured the win after both leaders drew their final classical games.
Three grandmasters finished half a point behind on five points: Ian Nepomniachtchi, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and Arjun Erigaisi. Madaminov advanced to the tiebreaks by holding a pawn advantage against GM Hans Niemann in round nine without converting it.
In the Challengers section, GM Mahammad Muradli finished first with 7.5 points, two ahead of the field. Fifteen-year-old IM Khumoyun Begmuratov won the Futures section with seven points to qualify for next year's Challengers.
The tournament ran from June 7 to 15 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with a total prize fund of $121,500 across all sections.
