Uzbekistan to start Chess Olympiad in Samarkand with match against Jamaica; Sindarov will miss the game

The 46th World Chess Olympiad began in Samarkand on September 16. As the host nation, Uzbekistan sent three teams to both the open and women's sections. All three men's national teams secured victories in the first round.

The leader of the Uzbek men's team, Javohir Sindarov, missed the first game to recover after participating in the Global Chess League held in India shortly before the Olympiad started. In this tournament, Sindarov's team finished third, and the Uzbek grandmaster himself became the best player on the first board.

Javohir Sindarov's preparation and participation in various international competitions, including the upcoming 2026 World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, as well as his work with coaches, are financially supported by the National Bank of Uzbekistan.

Men's Team Results

The main Uzbek team achieved a confident victory over Jamaica with a score of 4:0. Nodirbek Abdusattorov played against Joshua Christie on the first board, defeating him. Additionally, Nodirbek Yakubboev beat Rahim Gleaves (2127), Shamsiddin Vakhidov defeated Jayden Shaw (2100), and Mukhiddin Madaminov beat Akim Brown (2072).

The Uzbek delegation received the third seed at the Olympiad with an average rating of 2720. The USA (2753) and India (2735) were ranked higher. The first team of Uzbekistan included Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javohir Sindarov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vakhidov, and Mukhiddin Madaminov, with Rustam Kasymdzhanov serving as captain.

Second Uzbek Men's Team

The second Uzbek men's team won against Afghanistan with a score of 3:1. Abdimalik Abdisalimov beat Haiber Farazi on the first board, Muhammadzohid Suyarov defeated Habibull Amini, and Ortik Nigmatov overcame Vakhabuddin Mirzaad. The only loss for this Uzbek team was the match involving Khumayun Begmuratov, who lost to Khomayun Mokhtaat.

Third Uzbek Men's Team

The third Uzbek team started the tournament with a victory over Mali with a score of 3.5:0.5. Saidakbar Saidaliyev drew with Bakari Traore on the first board. Furthermore, Almas Rahmatullaev beat Umar Keita, Muhammadali Abdurakhmonov defeated Babu Mulaye Abdullah Maigu, and Asrorbek Omonov overcame Yusuf Niare.

How Other Participants Started

The USA team, holding the top seed, faced Iraq in the first round. Since Fabiano Caruana was resting, Wesley So, Hans Niemann, Levon Aronyan, and Avonder Liang played for the Americans. Although the USA won the match, they could not avoid losing points on the boards, as Iraqi chess player Ali Ehsan Aryan (rating 2163) drew with Aronyan.

India, the reigning Olympic champion, defeated Thailand 3:1 in the first round. Praggnanandhaa took a bye. The only loss among the reigning Olympic champions was suffered by Arjun Erigaisi: on the first board, he lost to International Master Prinu Laohavirapapu, whose rating is nearly 400 points lower than his own.

China crushed Uganda 4:0, with wins secured by Ding Liren, Yu Yangyi, Xu Xiangyu, and Kun Xiangzhou. Germany also defeated the Faroe Islands 4:0, with points brought by Matthias Blubaum, Frederik Svanes, Alexander Dontchenko, and Rasmus Svanes.

Armenia gave Barbados no chance with a score of 4:0; wins were secured by Robert Ovanyan, Shant Sargisan, Gabriel Sargisan, and Manuel Petrosyan. England also finished the first round with a 4:0 score, beating Monaco. The match victories were secured by Nikita Vityugov, Gavin Jones, Luke McShane, and Daniel Fernandez.

Ukraine, at the time of publication, was winning against Zimbabwe with a score of 3:0. Igor Kovalenko, Anton Korobov, and Igor Samunenkov won their games, while the match between Roman Dekhtyarov and Vitalis Mapuranga was still ongoing.

Azerbaijan began the Olympiad with a landslide victory over Morocco 4:0. Aydin Suleymanly beat Mohamed-Mehdi Aitmidi, Muhammad Muradly defeated Yasser Hadja Holt, Rauf Mamedov overcame Nidal Ganui, and Eltadj Safarli beat Abdeslam Zarkik.

The Pakistani men's team did not attend the first-round match against Israel. The President of the Pakistan Chess Federation, Syed Zeeshan Naqvi, explained this step as the official position of the country regarding Israel, stating that the boycott expresses solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Women's Teams

Uzbekistan also presented three teams in the women's section. The second Uzbek team defeated Togo 3:1. Marzhona Malikova beat Isabelle Mamah, Asal Salimova defeated Sandrine Kudafa, and Mumtazbegim Mansurova overcame Sandra Kudafa. Madinabonu Khalilov lost to Afifa Kponsu.

The main Uzbek women's team crushed Trinidad and Tobago 4:0. Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova beat Shemila James, Nilufarxon Imomkuziyeva defeated Samantha Dolly, Guldona Karimova overcame Aradhana Ramnarin Singh, and Umida Omonova beat Zaru La Fleur.

The third Uzbek women's team defeated Tanzania 4:0. Wins in this match were secured by Zilola Aktamova, Maftuna Bobomurodova, Shokhin Akhmedova, and Barchina Shokirjonova.

The 46th World Chess Olympiad takes place in Samarkand from September 16 to 27. 208 teams are registered in the open section, and 191 in the women's section. The tournament will consist of 11 rounds using the Swiss system, with each team fielding four players in every match, and one player remaining in reserve.

Opponents for the teams will be announced after the completion of all games on the first day. The second round is scheduled for September 17, with games starting at 15:00. Broadcasts can be watched on the UzChess YouTube channels in Uzbek and City Chess in Russian.

The total number of teams at the World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand will reach a record 400. Uzbekistan is considered one of the favorites for the home tournament, with the USA, India, and China being the main competitors. Captain of the first men's team, Rustam Kasymdzhanov, noted that the team approaches the tournament with 'cautious optimism.'

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, congratulated the participants of the 46th World Chess Olympiad, which is being held for the first time in Uzbekistan in Samarkand. This was reported by the Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Addressing the athletes, coaches, and guests of the tournament, the head of state noted that grandmasters, coaches, and chess enthusiasts from over 200 countries are participating in the forum.

According to Mirziyoyev, chess has long traditions in Uzbekistan. He mentioned that Amir Timur was a skilled player, and Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, Mirzo Ulugbek, Alisher Navoi, and Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur wrote about the role of chess in the spiritual development of people.

The President announced that more than two million people in the country are involved in chess, with the number of players rated above 6000. Among them, 32 Uzbek chess players hold the title of international grandmaster, and five leading players from the country are among the world's top 100. In FIDE rankings, the men's national team of Uzbekistan ranks eighth out of 204 countries, and the women's team ranks 20th.

The head of state recalled the victory of the national team at the 44th World Chess Olympiad in 2022 and its prize-winning performance at the 2024 Olympiad. He also highlighted the achievements of Grandmaster Javohir Sindarov, who won the title in the Candidates Tournament and the World Championship, as well as Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who won silver at the Blitz World Championship.

Mirziyoyev emphasized that granting Uzbekistan the right to host the Olympiad is a sign of trust from the international sports community. He expressed confidence that the tournament will take place in an atmosphere of fair competition and mutual respect. Furthermore, he added that conditions have been created in Samarkand for holding the 3rd Chess Olympiad for people with disabilities and the 97th FIDE Congress.

The President expressed gratitude to the leadership and staff of the International Chess Federation, as well as partner organizations, for their support in preparing for the forum, and wished the participants good health and success to the teams.