Uzbekistan and China win gold at the 2026 Chess Olympiad
Hosts Uzbekistan win the open section of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand on 20 match points, while China take gold in the women's event.
Uzbekistan won the open section of the 46th Chess Olympiad on home soil in Samarkand, finishing on 20 match points after the final round on 27 September. China took gold in the women's section, also on 20 points.
The hosts sealed the title by beating Ukraine 2½-1½ in round 11, with Mukhiddin Madaminov winning the decisive game on board four. Uzbekistan won ten of their 11 matches, with their only defeat coming against Germany. It is the country's second Olympiad gold.
Final podiums
| Section | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Uzbekistan (20) | India (18) | Germany (18) |
| Women | China (20) | Kazakhstan (18) | India (18) |
India and Germany finished level on 18 points in the open section, with India taking silver on tie-break after a 2-2 draw with Hungary. Germany beat the Netherlands 2½-1½ in the last round to secure bronze. A total of 205 teams competed in the open event.
In the individual board prizes, Nodirbek Abdusattorov won gold on board one for Uzbekistan with 8½/11, and Germany's Frederik Svane took gold on board three with the same score.
Why it matters
The Olympiad is the biggest team event in chess and tends to spark a wave of interest in the game, especially in the winning countries. New players drawn in by the headlines often start online or on mobile, so it is a good moment to brush up on the basics of chess.
Sources: ChessBase · Business Standard
