The battle took place on the Qatwan steppe, north of Samarkand, on September 9, 1141.[11][12][13] The Khitans divided their armies into three contingents, with the smaller left and right flanks holding 2,500 men.[14] The Kara-Khitans attacked the Seljuk forces simultaneously, encircled them, and forced the Seljuq center into a wadi called Dargham, about 12 km from Samarkand. Encircled from all directions, the Seljuq army was destroyed and Sanjar barely escaped. Figures of the dead ranged from 11,000 to 100,000.