Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan won the World Chess Olympiad for the second time, with the national team claiming gold in the open section at the 46th Olympiad in Samarkand.
In the final, 11th round, Uzbekistan faced Ukraine. Nodirbek Yakubboev drew with Igor Samunenkov, while Mukhiddin Madaminov defeated Roman Dikhtiarov. Javokhir Sindarov drew with Vasyl Ivanchuk, and the game between Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Igor Kovalenko also ended in a draw.
Uzbekistan therefore won the match 2.5–1.5 and finished the tournament with 20 points.
Uzbekistan had already secured first place before the match with Ukraine ended. This became possible after India drew 2–2 with Hungary. After 10 rounds, Uzbekistan had a one-point lead over India, 18 points to 17.
India finished second with 18 points, while Germany also scored 18 points and took third place after defeating the Netherlands 2.5–1.5.
For Uzbekistan, this was its second Olympic gold after winning the 2022 Olympiad in Chennai. At the 2024 Games in Budapest, the team won bronze medals.
Thus, across the last three Chess Olympiads, Uzbekistan has won the title twice and finished third once.
Uzbekistan’s team in Samarkand consisted of Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vokhidov and Mukhiddin Madaminov. Former world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov served as the team captain.
Uzbekistan won all of its first seven matches at the start of the tournament. In decisive matches, the team defeated India 2.5–1.5 and China 3–1. Uzbek chess players lost to Germany in the eighth round but then defeated the United States 2.5–1.5 and Armenia 3.5–0.5.
