Overview
- Mishra toppled Gukesh in a 61-move Round 5 game, becoming the youngest to beat a reigning champion in classical play and surpassing Gata Kamsky’s 1992 mark.
- The champion slipped again in Round 6, losing to Nikolas Theodorou, as Maghsoodloo held Arjun Erigaisi to keep sole lead on 5/6.
- Mishra drew Matthias Bluebaum in Round 6 to reach 4.5/6, joining Erigaisi, Bluebaum and Nihal Sarin in the chasing pack.
- Round 5 upsets also included top seed R Praggnanandhaa’s loss to Bluebaum, while Maghsoodloo beat Richard Rapport to seize control.
- The Samarkand event is an 11-round qualifier awarding two 2026 Candidates berths, with prize funds of $625,000 in the open and $230,000 in the women’s.