TWIC is 31. First issue 17th September 1994.
15th XTX Markets London Chess Classic 2025 (2)
Firouzja, Theodorou and Abdusattorov lead the London Chess Classic after wins in Round 2
Mark Crowther - Friday 28th November 2025
McShane - Firouzja London Chess Classic Round 2. Photo: John Saunders. | https://www.londonchessclassic.com
The London Chess Classic has three leaders after the first two rounds of the tournament. The first round was reasonably quiet with five draws, Alireza Firouzja had decent winning chances against Sam Shankland and Michael Adams looked to be a little better against Luke McShane. The second round saw three decisive games and there could have been a fourth. Alireza Firouzja, Nikolas Theodorou, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov share the lead with 1.5/2 after scoring wins in Round 2.
Round 2 Summary
Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat 16 year old Abhimanyu Mishra in a Ruy Lopez, the position after 20.Qxc2 was key, Mishra could have chosen 20...Rc8 or 20...Re6, instead he tried 20...b4 and the complications immediately rebounded on him. 21...g5? (21...Bxd5 was strictly necessary by now) 22.Nxg5 white had a big advantage that he went on to convert.
Nikolas Theodorou beat Gawain Maroroa Jones in a Janowski Queen's Gambit where Jones came out of the opening with a considerable disadvantage he couldn't fix. I don't know what Luke McShane overlooked against Alireza Firouzja but it must have been quite simple. Sam Shankland got a big advantage out of the opening against Pavel Eljanov but it quickly dribbled away. Nikita Vitiugov at least equalised with black against Michael Adams and the game finished in a draw.
| 15th London Classic Elite London (ENG), 26 xi-7 xii 2025 | cat. XVII (2668) | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1. | Firouzja, Alireza | g | FRA | 2762 | * | . | . | . | ½ | . | . | . | . | 1 | 1½ | 2825 | |||
| 2. | Theodorou, Nikolas | g | GRE | 2656 | . | * | . | ½ | . | . | . | 1 | . | . | 1½ | 2848 | |||
| 3. | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | g | UZB | 2750 | . | . | * | . | . | . | . | ½ | 1 | . | 1½ | 2841 | |||
| 4. | Eljanov, Pavel | g | UKR | 2656 | . | ½ | . | * | ½ | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | 2652 | |||
| 5. | Shankland, Sam | g | USA | 2649 | ½ | . | . | ½ | * | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | 2709 | |||
| 6. | Vitiugov, Nikita | g | ENG | 2657 | . | . | . | . | . | * | ½ | . | ½ | . | 1 | 2638 | |||
| 7. | Adams, Michael | g | ENG | 2635 | . | . | . | . | . | ½ | * | . | . | ½ | 1 | 2636 | |||
| 8. | Maroroa Jones, Gawain C B | g | ENG | 2655 | . | 0 | ½ | . | . | . | . | * | . | . | ½ | 2510 | |||
| 9. | Mishra, Abhimanyu | g | USA | 2642 | . | . | 0 | . | . | ½ | . | . | * | . | ½ | 2510 | |||
| 10. | McShane, Luke J | g | ENG | 2615 | 0 | . | . | . | . | . | ½ | . | . | * | ½ | 2505 | |||
| Round 1 (November 26, 2025) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firouzja, Alireza | - Shankland, Sam | ½-½ | 39 | D87 | Gruenfeld Botvinnik | |
| Eljanov, Pavel | - Theodorou, Nikolas | ½-½ | 31 | B22 | Sicilian Alapin | |
| Maroroa Jones, Gawain C B | - Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | ½-½ | 16 | B13 | Caro Kann Exchange | |
| Mishra, Abhimanyu | - Vitiugov, Nikita | ½-½ | 33 | E24 | Nimzo Indian Saemisch | |
| McShane, Luke J | - Adams, Michael | ½-½ | 36 | C85 | Ruy Lopez Steenwijker Defence | |
| Round 2 (November 27, 2025) | ||||||
| Theodorou, Nikolas | - Maroroa Jones, Gawain C B | 1-0 | 33 | D02 | Queen's Pawn Game | |
| Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | - Mishra, Abhimanyu | 1-0 | 49 | C78 | Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence | |
| Shankland, Sam | - Eljanov, Pavel | ½-½ | 33 | C55 | Two Knights Defence | |
| Adams, Michael | - Vitiugov, Nikita | ½-½ | 32 | C84 | Ruy Lopez Centre Attack | |
| McShane, Luke J | - Firouzja, Alireza | 0-1 | 33 | B92 | Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2 | |
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