The Race for Gold

The Race for Gold

At the Chess Olympiad team competition in Samarkand, after eight of the eleven rounds, Uzbekistan and Germany share the lead in the race for gold medals. The host nation, featuring world championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov, started the tournament strongly by winning their first seven matches before suffering a surprise defeat to Germany. With three rounds remaining, both teams sit at the top of the standings.

England’s Tournament Tale

England have struggled in the competition, losing twice. Their first defeat came against the second-seeded India, followed by a shock loss to Uzbekistan’s second team. However, the English women’s team has performed well throughout the event.

Sivanandan Shines

Eleven-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan has been a standout performer for England on top board. The young prodigy has been beaten only once so far in the competition, showcasing remarkable resilience and skill against seasoned opponents.

Key Highlights

Source

This report is based on information published by The Guardian — Chess.

Official source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/sep/25/chess-uzbekistan-and-germany-share-samarkand-lead-11-year-old-sivanandan-shines