Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan captain Rustam Kasimdjanov has spoken about the factors that helped the team win the World Chess Olympiad for the second time. He said the success was the result of state support for chess, a strong lineup, team unity and detailed preparation for the home tournament.
Asked about the previously promised “secret” of the team, Kasimdjanov said there was no single reason behind the victory. He highlighted the special attention given to chess in Uzbekistan and the conditions created for athletes to prepare.
The captain also stressed that the current lineup brings together players of a high international level who work well with one another not only at the chessboard.
“The players on the team really like each other. That is not the case in every national team. We are together, we are friends, and that helps,” Kasimdjanov said.
According to him, before the Olympiad the team sought to anticipate every possible detail. Preparation covered accommodation, food, as well as the work of coaches and seconds.
Kasimdjanov described hosting the Olympiad in Samarkand as a special opportunity that required the most thorough preparation.
For Mukhiddin Madaminov, the tournament was his first Chess Olympiad. In the decisive match against Ukraine, he secured a victory that contributed to the team’s overall success.
Madaminov said Kasimdjanov helped him deal with nervousness during the competition. The captain encouraged the young chess player not to be afraid and reminded him of his strong teammates, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javohir Sindarov.
“Those words and that kind of support really help us,” Madaminov said.
Sindarov linked the success of the current generation of Uzbek chess players to changes in attitudes toward the sport following the 2022 Olympiad victory. He highlighted support from the state and the president, as well as attention from fans.
“I am really proud to be Uzbek and to play for this country,” the chess player said.
Sindarov said he was hoping for further team successes and identified competing for the world championship title as his next goal. He also expressed hope that other members of the national team would significantly improve their positions in the world rankings.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov, in turn, highlighted the importance of teamwork. According to him, his tasks at the Olympiad were to perform on his board, support his teammates and help the team in decisive matches.
Abdusattorov said he completed the tournament without a loss. He also praised the current national team lineup and said the team was capable of achieving further major victories.
Nodirbek Yakubboev drew attention to the differences between the 2022 gold medal and the current championship. In Chennai, he said, the Uzbek team was viewed as an unexpected contender, whereas in Samarkand it arrived as one of the favourites.
This changed the way opponents approached matches against Uzbekistan. Teams prepared their strongest lineups in advance and sought to use their main resources specifically in matches against the Uzbek players.
Yakubboev said the experience gained at the Olympiads in Chennai and Budapest helped the team approach the home tournament better prepared.
The chess player separately called Rustam Kasimdjanov the team’s main hero. Fans then began chanting the captain’s name. Yakubboev himself subsequently stressed that every member of the national team contributed to the victory.
Shamsiddin Vokhidov described the second Olympic gold as a significant achievement for Uzbekistan and thanked fans for their support throughout the tournament.
In the final, 11th round, Uzbekistan defeated Ukraine 2.5–1.5. The team had secured first place before its match was completed, as India drew 2–2 with Hungary, leaving Uzbekistan with an insurmountable lead.
The Samarkand gold became Uzbekistan’s second Olympic title. The team won in Chennai in 2022 and two years later claimed bronze at the Olympiad in Budapest.
