Who is Going to Win 32nd Abu Dhabi Masters 2026?

by Devansh Singh - 24/08/2026

The 32nd edition of Abu Dhabi Masters is heading towards an exciting final round. After completion of 8 rounds, Jakhongir Vakhidov is leading with 6.5/8 points. 4 players, Aleksandr Rakhmanov, Daniil Dubov, Daniyal Sapenov, and India's Pranav Anand, are in joint second place with 6/8 points. Young talent Avirat Chauhan is on 5/8 points, and he is showing his class at the highest level. The Final round will start on 24th August at 10 AM Local Time. Photos: Anmol Bhargav

Indian Stars Shining Bright!

Young Indian prodigies are showing why they are considered the most dangerous and exciting players in the world. Untitled Avirat Chauhan is on 5/8 and playing with a performance rating of 2535. FM Advik Amit Agrawal is also on 5/8 and will face IM Urazayev Arystanbek in the final round.

FM Advik Amit Agrawal (right) defeated WFM Anna Zhurova

Avirat Chauhan defeated Viani Antonio Dcunha

Usov Aleksandr E vs. Jakhongir Vakhidov (0-1)

Pranav Anand defeated Sklokin-Bagiyan Sergey

Replay Round 7-8 Games

Photo Gallery: Here

Video Gallery: Here

Round 8 Results

Bo.	No.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	No.
1	4	GM	Rakhmanov, Aleksandr	2590	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Dubov, Daniil	2652	1
2	28	IM	Usov, Aleksandr E.	2457	5½	0 - 1	5½	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir	2508	14
3	2	GM	Iniyan, Pa	2609	5	½ - ½	5	GM	Makarian, Rudik	2543	12
4	5	GM	Pranav, Anand	2584	5	1 - 0	5	IM	Sklokin-Bagiyan, Sergey	2466	24
5	29	IM	Liyanage, Ranindu Dilshan	2454	5	½ - ½	5	GM	Mamedov, Edgar	2461	26
6	17	IM	Sapenov, Daniyal	2500	5	1 - 0	4½	GM	Paravyan, David	2597	3
7	21	GM	Ansat, Aldiyar	2490	4½	1 - 0	4½	GM	Narayanan, S L	2576	6
8	7	GM	Zemlyanskii, Ivan	2569	4½	1 - 0	4½	FM	Maslovskiy, Vladimir	2388	44
9	9	IM	Suyarov, Mukhammadzokhid	2551	4½	½ - ½	4½	IM	Jiang, Haochen	2457	27
10	23	IM	Talibov, Shiroghlan	2470	4½	½ - ½	4½	GM	Ahmadzada, Ahmad	2550	10

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB2	TB3
1	14	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir	UZB	2508	6,5	36	31,5
2	1	GM	Dubov, Daniil	RUS	2652	6	37	32,5
3	4	GM	Rakhmanov, Aleksandr	FID	2590	6	34,5	30,5
4	5	GM	Pranav, Anand	IND	2584	6	32,5	28,5
5	17	IM	Sapenov, Daniyal	KAZ	2500	6	32	28
6	2	GM	Iniyan, Pa	IND	2609	5,5	38	33,5
7	29	IM	Liyanage, Ranindu Dilshan	SRI	2454	5,5	36	32
8	28	IM	Usov, Aleksandr E.	RUS	2457	5,5	35,5	33
9	26	GM	Mamedov, Edgar	KAZ	2461	5,5	35	31,5
10	12	GM	Makarian, Rudik	FID	2543	5,5	35	31,5

Details

Round 9 Pairings

Bo.	No.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	No.
1	14	GM	Vakhidov, Jakhongir	2508	6½		6	GM	Rakhmanov, Aleksandr	2590	4
2	1	GM	Dubov, Daniil	2652	6		6	IM	Sapenov, Daniyal	2500	17
3	7	GM	Zemlyanskii, Ivan	2569	5½		6	GM	Pranav, Anand	2584	5
4	29	IM	Liyanage, Ranindu Dilshan	2454	5½		5½	GM	Iniyan, Pa	2609	2
5	12	GM	Makarian, Rudik	2543	5½		5½	IM	Usov, Aleksandr E.	2457	28
6	26	GM	Mamedov, Edgar	2461	5½		5½	GM	Ansat, Aldiyar	2490	21
7	8	GM	Gupta, Abhijeet	2553	5		5½	FM	Hakobyan, Eduard	2366	57
8	30	GM	Srihari, L R	2453	5		5	IM	Suyarov, Mukhammadzokhid	2551	9
9	10	GM	Ahmadzada, Ahmad	2550	5		5	IM	Goutham, Krishna H	2451	31
10	27	IM	Jiang, Haochen	2457	5		5	IM	Aswath, S	2546	11