Uzbekistan wins 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand
Uzbekistan has won Chess Olympiad gold in Samarkand, with Javokhir Sindarov and his teammates securing the title in front of a home crowd. The hosts finished with 20 match points, claiming their second open-team crown after their breakthrough victory in 2022.
The title was confirmed after Uzbekistan’s top men’s team claimed a decisive 3:1 victory over Ukraine on 27 September.
Uzbekistan has mathematically secured the Olympiad gold before their final match against Ukraine had even finished. India’s 2–2 draw with Hungary left Uzbekistan beyond reach after they entered the final round one point ahead.
Newly elected FIDE President Timur Turlov made the ceremonial first move in the Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 vs 🇺🇦 Ukraine match to kick off the final round. ♟️#ChessOlympiad pic.twitter.com/7QOUm6l4ea
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 27, 2026
Earlier on Saturday, Uzbekistan’s top men’s team crushed Armenia 3.5–0.5 in Round 10 of the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, with Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov and Mukhiddin Madaminov all winning their games, while Yakubboev drew. Uzbekistan’s women matched the score with a 3.5–0.5 victory over Peru, while the country’s second and third men’s teams lost to India and Israel, respectively.
A home triumph built on strength across the team
Sindarov, Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vokhidov and Madaminov formed Uzbekistan’s winning squad, with former world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov as captain.
A crucial moment came in round nine, when Uzbekistan beat the top-seeded United States 2.5–1.5. Abdusattorov defeated Fabiano Caruana, and Yakubboev overcame Hans Niemann, helping the hosts regain the outright lead after a setback against Germany.
Read more: Polymarket backed Uzbekistan for Olympiad gold and Sindarov for the world title
For Sindarov, the team title comes ahead of another major challenge: his world championship match against Gukesh Dommaraju in Geneva later this year.
