Uzbekistan's men's national team has won the 46th World Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand. The team secured the gold medal before the final match against Ukraine, which ended in a 2.5:1.5 victory, was fully completed. The fate of first place was sealed after a 2:2 draw between India and Hungary. Before the final round, Uzbekistan led with 18 team points, one point ahead of India.
This is Uzbekistan's second Olympic gold in the last three Olympiads. In 2022, the team won its first championship in Chennai, and two years later, it took bronze in Budapest. Javokhir Sindarov (rating 2778) faced one of Ukraine's most famous chess players, 57-year-old Vasyl Ivanchuk (2630), in the second pair of national teams. The game ended in a draw. The final round pairings were formed in exactly this order. According to the results of the home Olympiad, Sindarov scored 7 points in 10 games — five wins, four draws, and one loss. The grandmaster skipped the first round. His only loss in the tournament came in the ninth round against the United States, losing to Wesley So. Sindarov's preparation for international tournaments, including the Chess Olympiad, and his participation in them, as well as his work with coaches, is supported by the National Bank of Uzbekistan.
On the first board, Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2762) drew with Igor Kovalenko (2642). Abdusattorov played in all 11 games and never lost. He scored 8.5 points — 6 wins and 5 draws. Until the final round, he managed to defeat former world champion Ding Liren and one of America's strongest grandmasters, Fabiano Caruana. His victory over Caruana laid the foundation for Uzbekistan's win over the United States in the ninth round. On the third board, Nodirbek Yakubboev (2685) drew with Igor Samunenkov (2608). He finished the Olympiad with 7.5 points in 10 games — six wins, three draws, and one loss. Yakubboev's victories over Nihal Sarin in the match against India, over Yu Yangyi in the match against China, and over Hans Niemann in the match against the United States were particularly important. In the match against India, his win was the only decisive game and secured Uzbekistan's 2.5:1.5 victory.
On the fourth board, Mukhiddin Madaminov (2611) defeated Roman Dehtiarov (2508). This was Madaminov's seventh game of the Olympiad. He finished the competition undefeated, scoring 5.5 points — four wins and three draws. Shamsiddin Vokhidov (2654), who did not play in the final round, scored 4 points in six games: three wins, two draws, and one loss. Thus, the five chess players of Uzbekistan's main team scored a total of 33 points on the boards throughout the Olympiad. In the home Olympiad, Uzbekistan won 10 out of 11 team matches. The team passed the first seven rounds without losing any team points. Among the opponents were the then-reigning Olympic champion India, as well as China and Hungary. The team's only loss in the tournament came in the eighth round against Germany — 1.5:2.5. However, the very next day, Uzbekistan defeated the United States 2.5:1.5, and then crushed Armenia, which had been undefeated until then, 3.5:0.5.
Before the final round, Uzbekistan was the sole leader with 18 points, one point ahead of India. Regardless of the outcome of the India — Hungary match (which ended in a 2:2 draw), the team only needed to win against Ukraine to secure the gold medal. Germany defeated the Netherlands 2.5:1.5. Uzbekistan's main rival, India, drew with Hungary 2:2. Arjun Erigaisi defeated Peter Leko, but world champion Dommaraju Gukesh missed his chance against Gleb Dudin. The games Richard Rapport — Pragnanandha and Benjamin Gledura — Nihal Sarin ended in draws. China defeated Uzbekistan's second national team 3:1. Jakhongir Vokhidov drew with Ding Liren, and Humoyun Begmuratov drew with Xu Xiangyu. Abdimalik Abdisalimov lost to Wei Yi, and Muhammadzohid Suyarov lost to Yu Yangyi. Armenia finished the Olympiad with a 3:1 victory over Croatia. Shant Sargsyan and Manuel Petrosyan won their games, and two more games ended in draws. Uzbekistan's third team, on the other hand, finished the tournament with a victory over Andorra — 2.5:1.5. Almas Rakhmatullaev defeated Serni Rivera Vegansones, and Muhammadali Abdurahmonov defeated Daniel Gomes Anadon, Saidakbar Saydaliev drew with Oscar de la Riva. Asrorjon Omonov missed his chance against Esteve Mateu Giu.
Uzbekistan won its first gold medal at the World Chess Olympiad in 2022 in Chennai. The young team did not lose a single match over 11 rounds and surpassed Armenia on additional indicators. At the next Olympiad — in 2024 in Budapest — Uzbekistan took third place. India became the champion, and the United States won silver. In addition, Nodirbek Abdusattorov won an individual silver medal on the first board, and Shamsiddin Vokhidov won a gold medal on the fourth board. Uzbekistan finished the Olympiad with 20 out of a possible 22 team points, with 10 wins and one loss. On individual boards, 32.5 out of a possible 44 points were scored.
Uzbekistan's women's national team-1 finished the Olympiad with a 1:3 loss to Armenia. Afruza Hamdamova (2443) lost to Lilit Mkrtchyan (2353), and Gulruhbegim Tohirjonova (2357) lost to Mariam Mkrtchyan (2374). Umida Omonova (2297) drew with Elina Danielian (2382), and Guldona Karimova (2242) drew with Susanna Gaboyan (2179). Uzbekistan's second women's team finished the final round with a 2:2 draw against Israel. Nilufar Yakubboeva (2246) lost to Marsel Efroimski (2340), and Marjona Malikova (2149) drew with Noga Orian (2307). Madinabonu Khalilova (2087) defeated Olga Gutmakher (2216), and Asal Salimova (2088) shared the point with Viktoria Chernyak (2222). Uzbekistan's third women's team confidently defeated the Republic of South Africa (RSA) 3.5:0.5. Zilola Aktamova (2078) drew with Chloe Badenhorst (1997). Maftuna Bobomurodova (2030), Barchinoy Shokirjonova (1996), and Ozoda Shahzodova (1964) won their games. In the fight for gold medals, China defeated Vietnam 3:1. Zhu Jiner and Lu Miaoyi won their games, and two more games ended in draws. Kazakhstan drew with Poland 2:2. Elnaz Kaliakhmet defeated Alicja Sliwicka, but Alua Nurman lost to Aleksandra Maltsevskaya. The other two matches ended in draws. Thus, China retained first place and won the women's section of the Olympiad. Kazakhstan finished the competition in second place, and the US team took third.
Source: www.gazeta.uz