GM Ian Nepomniachtchi leads the rapid tournament at the Vugar Gashimov Memorial 2025 after five rounds with 3.5/5 points. GM Vladimir Fedoseev follows with 3 points. Five additional rapid rounds are scheduled for December 10, followed by ten rounds of blitz chess with a 3+2 time control on December 11. The champion will be determined by the combined score from both the rapid and blitz tournaments.

Two players are tied for third place with 2.5 points, requiring a tiebreak to decide the standings for places 3-4. The current standings (December 9) are:

1. GM Ian Nepomniachtchi – 3.5 points (TB score: 0)

2. GM Vladimir Fedoseev – 3 points (TB score: 0)

3. GM Rauf Mamedov – 2.5 points (TB score: 1)

4. GM Nodirbek Yakubboev – 2.5 points (TB score: 0)

5. GM Amin Tabatabaei – 2 points (TB score: 0)

6. GM Aydin Suleymanli – 1.5 points (TB score: 0)

The Vugar Gashimov Memorial is organized by the Vugar Gashimov Chess Foundation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, and the Chess Federation of Azerbaijan. The tournament is being held at the Khankendi Congress Center from December 9 to 11.