Chess players Nodirbek Yakubboev and Rustam Kasymdzhanov, the team captain, shared their impressions of the Uzbekistan national team's victory over India in the sixth round of the Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand. Both athletes emphasized the need to maintain concentration and not become complacent despite the achieved success.
Nodirbek Yakubboev stated that the game against his opponent was extremely difficult. He noted that difficulties arose from the beginning of the game because the opponent used an unexpected opening and exerted constant pressure. By move forty, the opponent had a significant advantage, but Yakubboev managed to turn the tide of the game by setting a trap for his opponent.
In an interview with FIDE, the grandmaster admitted that at one point he was in danger of defeat. Nevertheless, he managed to change the course of the match and achieve victory by spotting a tactical opportunity when Sarin made a knight move to f5. Yakubboev noted that he immediately recognized this idea after his move g3.
The victory over India is particularly significant as the Indian national team is considered one of Uzbekistan's closest competitors. Yakubboev expressed joy at helping the team secure the win and becoming the sole leader. He also recalled that in the two previous Olympiads in Chennai and Budapest, matches between Uzbekistan and India ended in draws.
Despite the current lead, Yakubboev cautioned against premature conclusions, pointing to upcoming matches against strong teams such as China, Germany, and the USA. He stressed that thorough preparation is necessary, so 'one cannot relax.' He also mentioned that Nihal Sarin is an uncomfortable opponent for him, despite past losses in online formats.
Responding to FIDE's question about chances for gold, Yakubboev stated that the team's position has improved, but there is still a long way to go until the end of the tournament, requiring constant work.
The captain of the Uzbekistan national team, Rustam Kasymdzhanov, also called for not giving excessive importance to the intermediate success. He maintains a reservedly optimistic attitude, although he admits that the team is in a celebratory mood, with five rounds remaining. Kasymdzhanov closely monitors not only the performances of Uzbek players but also the actions of main competitors, analyzing the first four or five matches.
The captain declined to disclose details of the national team's internal workings, stating that he would talk about everything after winning the Olympiad. Although a rest day is scheduled for September 22nd, Kasymdzhanov believes that the players need to recover, but complete relaxation is unacceptable because the victory will not be easy. He also noted that playing at home creates a dual pressure, which is felt both as a burden and as a celebration.
In the sixth round, Uzbekistan defeated India with a score of 2.5:1.5. Yakubboev secured the win, while the games of Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javhohir Sindarov, and Shamsiddin Vohidov ended in draws. Thanks to this, Uzbekistan maintained its sole leadership, accumulating 12 out of 12 possible points. The next match is scheduled for September 23rd against the Chinese national team, which also did not lose, having earned 11 points.