Uzbekistan Claims Gold at 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand

Uzbekistan Wins 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand

Uzbekistan won the open gold medals at the 2026 Chess Olympiad, the biennial international team tournament, held in Samarkand last week. India finished second, while Germany claimed third place ahead of the top-seeded United States in fourth.

Strong Team Performance

The host nation led almost from start to finish, showcasing a performance reminiscent of the legendary Soviet grandmasters. Key contributors included world No 5 Nodirbek Abdusattorov and world title challenger Javokhir Sindarov, who anchored the top boards for the winning team. Despite a single loss to Germany, Uzbekistan rebounded strongly, highlighted by a dominant 3.5-0.5 victory over Armenia in the penultimate round.

Rewards for Champions

In recognition of their success, the Uzbekistan government awarded each of the five players $200,000 (£178,000), a house, and a Volkswagen. The team coach, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, received an additional $50,000 for his role in securing the title.

Source

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

Official source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/02/uzbekistan-dominates-chess-olympiad-bodhana-sivanandan-sets-new-world-age-record