27/09/2026
A historic day for Uzbek chess!
Uzbekistan has once again conquered the world of chess, winning the Open section of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026 on home soil in the beautiful and historic city of Samarkand.
In a thrilling final round, Uzbekistan defeated Ukraine 2.5โ1.5, securing the gold medal and finishing the tournament with an impressive 20 points out of 22. With this victory, Uzbekistan has claimed its second Chess Olympiad title, following its unforgettable triumph in Chennai in 2022.
The Uzbek team showed incredible consistency, fighting spirit, teamwork, and world-class chess throughout the tournament. The squad featured some of the country's strongest grandmasters, including Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vokhidov, and Mukhiddin Madaminov, with Rustam Kasimdzhanov serving as captain.
The final victory was especially memorable because it came in front of the home crowd in Samarkand. Mukhiddin Madaminov delivered the decisive win on board four against Ukraine, completing an outstanding unbeaten tournament performance of 5.5/7.
This Olympiad was also historic on a larger scale. The 46th Chess Olympiad brought nearly 400 teams together in Samarkand, making it one of the biggest gatherings in the history of international team chess. It was also the first time the Chess Olympiad was held in Central Asia.
From Chennai 2022 to Samarkand 2026, Uzbekistan has established itself as a major force in international chess.
