Uzbeks might win Chess Olympiad — how much would they earn?
The Uzbek chess players stand to receive tens of thousands of US dollars each if they win gold at the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. The increased state bonus puts a potential $1 million reward within reach of the country’s five-player open team.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved the higher payments on September 21, the justice ministry confirmed on social media. The decision sets rewards in US dollars, replacing amounts previously tied to Uzbekistan’s base calculation rate, a benchmark used for official payments.
How much would each medal pay?
The new schedule provides the following one-off rewards for the senior Chess Olympiad, according to Kursiv Uzbekistan’s report:
| Medal | Reward per player | Coach’s reward |
| Gold | $200,000 | $50,000 |
| Silver | $100,000 | $25,000 |
| Bronze | $50,000 | $12,500 |
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The same rates apply to the senior chess competition for players with disabilities.
For five medal-winning players, the payments would add up to:
- $1 million for gold;
- $500,000 for silver;
- or $250,000 for bronze, excluding coaching rewards.
These totals are calculated based on the reported individual rates.
How much have the rewards increased?
The previous reward framework was established in August 2022. Gold carried a bonus of 2,000 base calculation units, which Fergana values at UZS 880 million, or roughly $74,400, using current rates. The new $200,000 payment is about 2.7 times that amount.
Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vokhidov, and Mukhiddin Madaminov make up Uzbekistan’s leading open team, which is captained by former world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov. Four members helped the country win its first Olympiad title in Chennai in 2022, followed by a bronze medal in Budapest in 2024.
Read also: Wesley So names Uzbekistan favourite for Chess Olympiad gold
The revised incentives extend beyond the senior event. A gold medal at the Youth Olympiad earns a player $20,000, while the title of international grandmaster comes with a $5,000 bonus.
