Uzbekistan team claims historic Chess Olympiad victory
For nearly two weeks, the Chess Olympiad and its sideline events kept the world’s attention on Samarkand, contributed invaluably to chess development, and once again highlighted Uzbekistan’s growing stature on the international stage.
Today, the final matches of Round 11 at the 46th Chess Olympiad determined the tournament’s winners and medalists.
Represented by skilled and talented chess players Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Yakubboyev, and Mukhiddin Madaminov, Uzbekistan-1 defeated Ukraine 2.5-1.5 and deservedly claimed the 2026 Chess Olympiad title with 20 points.
India, Uzbekistan’s main rival, drew 2-2 with Hungary in the final round and finished with 18 points, earning silver medals.
Meanwhile, Germany defeated the Netherlands to finish third with 19 points, ahead on tiebreak criteria.
The path to the title was far from easy for the Uzbek players. They defeated their opponents in each of the first seven rounds. In key encounters, Uzbekistan beat India 2.5-1.5 and China 3-1. After dropping points to Germany in Round 8, the Uzbek team overcame the United States, regarded as a “world all-star team”, in Round 9. In Round 10, Armenia was defeated 3.5-0.5.
Looking back at the Chess Olympiad, Uzbekistan’s national team won gold in Chennai in 2022, bronze in Budapest in 2024, and gold again in Samarkand in 2026. These achievements vividly demonstrate the growing intellectual potential of the country’s younger generation.
Another notable aspect of the Olympiad was that the Uzbek players not only became champions but also demonstrated in practice that their recent achievements were not accidental and that Uzbekistan is now among the world’s strongest national chess teams.
Uzbek players Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Yakubboyev, and Asrorjon Omonov also ranked among the top performers on their respective boards.
In addition, Abdumalik Abdusalimov, Muhammadzohid Suyarov, Afruza Khamdamova, Umida Omonova, Nilufar Imomquziyeva and Guldona Karimova all placed in the top ten on their respective boards, showing that a new generation of champions is emerging and that more victories lie ahead.
China defeated Vietnam in the final round of the women’s Chess Olympiad to win the title with 20 points. Kazakhstan, after drawing with Poland, finished second, and India placed third.
We congratulate our champions on their historic victory, earned through skill and determination in fiercely contested matches. We also congratulate their coaches, the Uzbekistan Chess Federation community, and the entire nation.
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T. Ruziyev, G. Hasanov, photos by A. Mamadaminov, UzA
