Germany end Uzbekistan's perfect run at the Chess Olympiad to share the lead
Germany beat hosts Uzbekistan 2.5-1.5 in round eight of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand on Thursday, ending the hosts' perfect seven-match winning run and joining them at the top of the standings with three rounds to play.
Germany ended Uzbekistan’s perfect run at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad on Thursday, beating the hosts 2.5-1.5 in the eighth round in Samarkand and joining them at the top of the open standings on 14 of 16 match points.
The crucial wins came from the Svane brothers on the bottom two boards: Frederik Svane defeated Nodirbek Yakubboev on board three, while Rasmus Svane beat Shamsiddin Vokhidov on board four, where a move-16 blunder cost the Uzbek an exchange. Uzbekistan’s only full point came from world championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov, who beat Matthias Bluebaum on board two; the top-board game between Vincent Keymer and Nodirbek Abdusattorov was drawn.
Uzbekistan had won all seven previous matches, and Germany’s victory — which follows an earlier win over the United States — reopened the title race with three rounds remaining. A chasing pack sits one point behind the leaders.
In the women’s event, China took the sole lead on 15 match points after beating Georgia. India’s women’s team held Kazakhstan to a 2-2 draw, rescued by B. Savitha Shri’s seventh consecutive victory, while India’s open team drew 2-2 with Azerbaijan after world champion D. Gukesh missed a winning chance against Mahammad Muradli.
Sources
- Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/news/view/2026-samarkand-chess-olympiad-round-8
- ChessBase: https://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-olympiad-2026-8
- Sportstar (The Hindu): https://sportstar.thehindu.com/chess/chess-olympiad-round-8-india-results-savitha-shri-saves-women-men-draw/article71505582.ece
- Daijiworld: https://daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1326640
- UzDaily: https://www.uzdaily.uz/en/uzbekistan-lose-to-germany-at-chess-olympiad/
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