In the sixth round of the World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan secured a 2.5–1.5 victory over India, strengthening their sole lead. Nodirbek Yakubboev, who delivered the decisive point, and team captain Rustam Kasimdzhanov shared their thoughts with the media after the match.
According to Yakubboev, the game was difficult for him from the opening. "The game was very complex. My opponent made a move in the opening that I did not expect, and from that moment he tried to apply pressure. Around move 40, he had a big advantage. However, with a single move he ruined everything. I had set a trap, and he fell into it," the grandmaster told local journalists. In an interview with FIDE, he admitted he was close to losing: "I was even a bit upset that I was playing the game so poorly. But then it happened, and I turned the game in my favor and achieved victory."
Yakubboev said he had foreseen the tactical plan even before his opponent Nihal Sarin's decisive mistake. "As soon as I made the move g3, I had this plan in mind. I did not expect him to choose Nf5, but when he did, I was extremely happy," he said. The chess player recalled that in the two previous Olympiads — in Chennai and Budapest — matches between Uzbekistan and India ended in draws. Therefore, this success holds special significance for the team. "I am very happy that we won, took the sole lead, and that I was able to bring victory to my team," he added.
The grandmaster urged against viewing the sixth-round result as decisive. "Ahead lie China, Germany, and the USA. If they win and catch up to us, it will not be easy. Therefore, we have no right to relax. Now we get one rest day, and then we must prepare thoroughly for the next game," Yakubboev said. He called Nihal Sarin an uncomfortable opponent for himself. "Previously, I had missed chances against him several times in online tournaments and rapid chess. But this time I did not think about online or rapid — I just tried to play quality chess. That is why this victory over Nihal after those losses was especially pleasant for me," he said.
Responding to FIDE's question about Uzbekistan's chances for the championship, Yakubboev emphasized that after defeating India, the team's position improved, but much remains until the end of the competition: "Right now our chances are better than those of other teams. However, we cannot relax — we must prepare better and better. Among ourselves we joke, 'We will rest only after the Olympiad.' Until then, we must work tirelessly." In a conversation with local journalists, he added that if the team maintains its athletic form, its chances of fighting for the championship are quite high.
Captain of Uzbekistan's first team, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, also called for not overestimating the interim result after the success over India. Before the Olympiad began, he had expressed "cautious optimism" about the team's prospects in an interview. After the sixth round, his position remained almost unchanged. "I am still in a mood of cautious optimism. Perhaps I am now a bit more optimistic, but I am still careful. Because right now the guys are, in fact, celebrating a victory, while we still have to win five more rounds," Kasimdzhanov told FIDE.
According to the captain, during the round he carefully monitors not only the games of the Uzbek chess players but also how the main competitors are performing: "Because I consider it very important to understand the performance of our rivals. That is why I regularly watch the first four or five games." Kasimdzhanov did not wish to disclose details of the team's internal routine and plans for now: "What I told the Uzbek press, I will tell you as well: I will share all the details after we win the Olympiad. Until then, you will hear nothing from me."
September 22 is designated as a rest day at the Olympiad. Kasimdzhanov stressed that the players need to regain strength, but it is still too early to fully relax: "They undoubtedly need to rest, but not excessively. We must continue working, because no one has ever won the Olympiad easily, and we will not be able to achieve it easily either. There is still hard work ahead," said the legend of Uzbek chess. The captain also touched upon the psychological pressure the team faces due to the Olympiad being held in Uzbekistan: "I have always believed that playing at home is more difficult. It is indeed hard, but at the same time it all feels a bit like a celebration. So this factor probably works both ways."
In the sixth round, Uzbekistan defeated India 2.5–1.5. Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov, and Shamsiddin Vokhidov drew their games, while Yakubboev scored the only victory. After six rounds, the Uzbek national team has collected 12 out of 12 possible points and holds sole first place. The next match will be on September 23 against China, which remains unbeaten with 11 points.
Source: www.gazeta.uz