2026 Samarkand Olympiad Rounds 7–9: Uzbekistan & China Lead Open and Women’s

Schedule

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Interviews from our channel will also be embedded throughout this post.

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Overview (Open)

Despite losing in round 8 to Germany, Uzbekistan is in sole first, on 16/18 match points, after defeating the USA in round 9, while Germany lost in the same round to India. India, Uzbekistan 2, and Armenia are one point behind Uzbekistan on 15/18 match points, with six more teams on 14/18 match points: China, Germany, France, Spain, Ukraine, and Hungary.

Top Boards

Round 7: Uzbekistan Continues Dominating

Uzbekistan vs. China, 3-1

The much anticipated matchup between Uzbekistan and China was somewhat anticlimactic as both Nodirbek's had sizeable advantages before move 30, while GM Javokhir Sindarov was incredibly well-prepared against GM Wei Yi's opening surprise and even had a slight advantage at one point. Similarly booked up was GM Xu Xiangyu, who played a very deep opening line, but GM Mukhiddin Madaminov was there to meet the challenge with solid defense. Meanwhile, both GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov and GM Nodirbek Yakubboev converted their edges against GM Ding Liren and GM Yu Yangyi without any significant difficulties.

Armenia vs. The United States of America, 2-2

With two tepid draws on boards 1 and 3, GM Awonder Liang's bounce back win against GM Gabriel Sargissian seemed to have assured the USA team victory as GM Wesley So, who was in trouble against GM Robert Hovhannisyan, had stabilized. However, So soon uncharacteristically blundered twice in a rook endgame, and team USA had to contend with a drawn match against Armenia.

India vs. England, 2.5-1.5

In terms of the overall match score, India was never in any real danger of not winning its match against England (games 1 & 4), but the salient story was GM Nihal Sarin losing another game after his tragic loss in round 6. Indeed, Nihal was better as Black around move 25, though after some adventures, GM Luke J McShane was able to equalize. Nihal perhaps played on for too long and was soon somewhat worse, eventually blundering away the game on two different occasions, with McShane capitalizing on the second opportunity.

Germany vs. Türkiye, 3-1

With the two youngsters on boards 1 and 2, GM Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş and GM Ediz Gürel, effectively neutralized by GM Vincent Keymer and GM Matthias Blübaum, it was up to the Svane brothers to make the difference for team Germany, and that they did to stellar effect as both played strong endgames.

Leaderboard After Round 7

Round 8: Uzbekistan Falters, Germany Catches Up

Germany vs. Uzbekistan, 2.5-1.5

With Germany having defeated Uzbekistan 2 and Uzbekistan 3 already, some may have considered round 8's result inevitable. Truly, Germany was already looking in very good shape by the first hour or so as GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov tragically blundered an exchange against GM Rasmus Svane. Rasmus took a while to convert his advantage, with his brother, GM Frederik Svane, beating him to the punch, offsetting GM Matthias Blübaum's loss to GM Javokhir Sindarov. On board 1, GM Vincet Keymer was very close to converting his advantage against GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, but ultimately, he missed a study-like defense in the endgame.

Our director of operations, Theo Wait, interviewed GM Vincent Keymer after his draw with Abdusattorov and GM Rasmus Svane after his win against Vokhidov.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaWKw6zkEEs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqj5HaZRSzs

Content team member, streamer, and coach WFM Yilin Li caught up with GM Frederik Svane after his win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VyVvQd3UZ4

India vs. Azerbaijan, 2-2

For the longest part of the match, India was pressing for the win against Azerbaijan, with world champion GM Gukesh D having a nearly winning advantage against GM Mahammad Muradli at several key moments of the game. However, the match could have gone much differently, depending on the results on the top boards: GM R Praggnanandhaa had chances to win against GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and so too did GM Aydin Suleymanli against GM Arjun Erigaisi. For his part, Gukesh failed to convert his edge against Muradli, and with GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi's game against GM Rauf Mamedov being a rather quiet draw, both teams had to acquiesce to a drawn match.

The Netherlands vs. Armenia, 2-2

GM Anish Giri's seven-game series of decisive games came to a halt after GM Haik M. Martirosyan was able to quell White's initiative and drew the game rather quickly. However, his other teammate who is also in top shape, GM Jorden van Foreest, righted the ship with a win against GM Robert Hovhannisyan. Meanwhile, GM Loek van Wely first saw his advantage dissipate, then he was on the worse side of the game and eventually lost. With GM Manuel Petrosyan also failing to capitalize on his endgame edge against GM Erwin L'Ami, the match ended in a draw, keeping both sides within contention on 13/16 match points.

Other Leaders & Results

• The USA defeated Serbia 3.5-0.5, with wins on boards 1, 2, and 4 by GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Hans Moke Niemann, and GM Awonder Liang.

Our director of operations, Theo Wait, caught up with GM Hans Moke Niemann after his win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpFmdljK9Sc

• China won against Poland 2.5-1.5. GM Wei Yi got the better of GM Szymon Gumularz with a stunning queen sacrifice.
• France similarly narrowly scarped by against Iran 2.5-1.5, with key wins from GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (game) and GM Marc'Andria Maurizzi (game).
• Uzbekistan 2 emerged victorious against England courtesy of a win by GM Khumoyun Begmuratov against GM Daniel Howard Fernandez (game).

Leaderboard After Round 8

Round 9: Uzbekistan Back in Sole Lead

Uzbekistan vs. The United States of America, 2.5-1.5

With the 1st and 3rd seeds of the tournament finally meeting in round 9, and following the seemingly unstoppable Uzbekistan's team tough loss in round 8, the matchup between Uzbekistan and the USA could not be any more exciting. From start to finish, the match was as tense as can be, and for a brief moment, it looked as if the USA would get the better of Uzbekistan and nab the lead from them. Indeed, after GM Levon Aronian got out of minor trouble against GM Mukhiddin Madaminov (game), GM Wesley So was doing very well against GM Javokhir Sinadrov and went on to win said game.

However, just when it mattered the most, the two Nodirbek's came in swinging, first with GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov profiting from an abrupt endgame blunder by GM Fabiano Caruana.

Then, GM Hans Moke Niemann had chances to escape against GM Nodirbek Yakubboev, but after 50...h4??, the USA had no more chances left.

India vs. Germany, 2.5-1.5

For spectators who watched the first few hours of the India vs. Germany match, a win for India must have come as a big surprise. In fact, in just the final few minutes was the match outcome decided. After GM Nihal Sarin survived a scare against GM Frederik Svane, the match was still trending in Germany's favor, with world champion GM Gukesh D having a lost position against GM Alexander Donchenko, and GM R Praggnanadhaa and GM Arjun Erigaisi being slightly on the back foot against GM Vincent Keymer and GM Matthias Blübaum, respectively. However, after failing to find a win, Donchenko completely collapsed and allowed Gukesh to crash through, winning the game and the match after draws on boards 1 and 2.

Uzbekistan 2 vs. The Netherlands, 3.5-0.5

In another dominant Uzbek performance, the 2nd Uzbek team demolished the Netherlands with a nearly perfect score. For that, some fortune was required on board 2, with GM Abdimalik Abdisalimov escaping against GM Jorden van Foreest (game). With that being said, the other games were heavily one-sided (games 1, 3, and 4)

Armenia vs. Azerbaijan, 2.5-1.5

Boards 1, 2, and 3 saw very fighting draws, with chances to win for four of the six players involved. It was GM Gabriel Sargissian, though, who clinched the point for his team.

Other Leaders & Results

• China drew France 2-2, with four draws, in what was a very quiet match on three boards, except one.
• Hungary defeated Austria 3-1, with the sole win for Austria coming from Lichess streamer GM Felix Blohberger against GM Peter Leko, who our director of operations, Theo Wait, interviewed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZTiFyXf8JQ

Leaderboard After Round 9

The Biggest Upsets

Round 7

Khaled AlJamaat (1810) of Qatar played a very strong game in the Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack of the Sicilian Defense against FM John Ranel Morazo (2242) of Palau.

Other upsets include:

• FM Ho Cheung Wong (1966) of Hong Kong, China defeated FM Adam Collins (2340) of Ireland (game).
• Shahruh Turayev (2222) of Turkmenistan emerged victorious against GM Valentin Baidetskyi (2511) of Austria (game).
• CM Liu Yeh Yang (2051) of Chinese Taipei beat FM Dion Krivenko (2319) of Estonia (game).
• Mohammed Khalfan Al Saidi (1934) of Oman won against Marcos Ortiz (2226) of Nicaragua (game).
• Vendiz Charles (1701) of Antigua and Barbuda defeated Mohamed El Moctar Sidaty (2031) of Mauritania (game).
• Mohamed Djerbi (1666) of Qatar got the better of CM Cyril Tomas Monte Jr (1920) of Palau (game).
• Robel Brhane Abrha (2026) of Ethiopia prevailed against FM Philippe Linster (2230) of Luxembourg (game).
• Mohammed Fahad M Alsemail (1982) of Saudi Arabia won against FM Hasan Ahmed (2190) of Sudan (game).
• Thinlee Wangyel (1692) of Bhutan defeated Winston Gerald Mansfield Thomas (1928) of Sierra Leone (game).
• FM Sai Han Thiha (2099) of Myanmar drew against GM Mads Andersen (2549) of Denmark (game).
• Edmond Meng Zhang (1896) of Hong Kong, China drew against FM Kavin Venkatesan (2304) of Ireland (game).
• David Sun (1591) of Macau, China drew against CM Alex Bullen (2096) of Wales (game).

Round 8

Mohammed Midhat Abdulrahman (2091) of Libya defeated GM Lelys Stanley Martinez Duany (2440) of Cuba in a one-sided game, exploiting the latter's king on c3.

More upsets:

• Chenitha Mithvidu Ovitigala (2121) of Sri Lanka won against Uurtsaikh Agibileg (2412) of Mongolia (game).
• IM Adlane Arab (2453) of Algeria defeated GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen (2656) of Norway (game).
• FM Alexei Tapia Ostolaza (2203) of Panama prevailed against IM Thibaut Vandenbussche (2411) of Belgium (game).
• Omario Pope (1431) of Grenada emerged victorious against Cheikh Sidy Mohamed Deme (1864) of Senegal (game).
• Sanker Kim (1583) of Cambodia got the better of CM Kendrick Knowles (1872) of the Bahamas (game).
• Mohammed Dhaidan N Alotaibi (1868) of Saudi Arabia defeated FM Raheem Glaves (2127) of Jamaica (game).
• Souminta Yomvilath (1495) of Laos won against Prince Mika Bosco Baninga (1836) of the Central African Republic (game).
• Leonel Alejandro Treminio Umanzor (1963) of Nicaragua got the better of Eddy Ernesto Enrique Hernandez (2197) of Ecuador (game).
• Shamoy Joseph (1578) of the British Virgin Islands defeated Chris Kaituu (1890) of the Solomon Islands (game).
• Zaman Sohail (1935) of Pakistan emerged victorious against IM Ayman Al-Halila (2138) of Yemen (game).
• Dylan Flanagan (1672) of Bermuda prevailed against CM Charles Eichab (1945) of Namibia (game).

Round 9

CM Khaled Seyam (1917) of Jordan defeated CM Jaime Sonhy (2233) of Angola in a game where he had to win twice after blundering his advantage.

Additional upsets:

• CM Bernard Anhwere (1965) of Ghana won against FM Diogo Alho (2212) of Cape Verde (game).
• Souminta Yomvilath (1495) of Laos emerged victorious against Tieta Apadinuwe (1779) of Nauru (game).

Round 10 Pairings

Overview (Women's)

China is in sole first on 17/18 match points, dropping just one draw to Kazakhstan, with its closest rivals on 15/18 being India, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. France, Armenia, Poland, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Greece are one point further behind on 14/18 match points.

Top Boards

Round 7: China and Kazakhstan Draw, Maintaining Shared Lead

China vs. Kazakhstan, 2-2

China's match against Kazakhstan could have gone horribly wrong for team China as WIM Elnaz Kaliakhmet's opening novelty on move 15, 15. Nh5!, caused WIM Yan Tianqi to immediately blunder with 15...Nd7??, losing the game in just 35 moves.

IM Alua Nurman also had a winning endgame advantage against IM Song Yuxin, so even with IM Lu Miaoyi's soon-to-be win against IM Meruert Kamalidenova, matters looked dire for China. However, just one misassessment by Nurman was enough to turn the tides and force liquidation into a drawn king and pawn endgame.

India vs. Germany, 3.5-0.5

India did not face any difficulties against Germany, winning on boards 1 and 3 in rather one-sided games, drawing a simple game on board 2, and playing an incredibly topsy-turvy game on board 4.

Georgia vs. Poland, 2.5-1.5

Boards 1 and 2, quite literally, saw White-washes, with IM Oliwia Kiolbasa and GM Nino Batsiashvili winning one-sided White games against GM Nana Dzagnidze and IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya, respectively. On boards 3 and 4, it looked as if Black would win both games, tying the match, but while IM Lela Javakhishvili won her game against IM Klaudia Kulon, GM Monika Socko failed to convert her advantage against IM Meri Arabidze.

Our director of operations, Theo Wait, chatted with IM Oliwia Kiolbasa after her win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMxORQcTyEw

Leaderboard After Round 7

Round 8: China in Sole Lead As Kazakhstan Draws

China vs. Georgia, 2.5-1.5

As evidenced by the results on boards 1 and 2, both sides came in with a safety-first strategy. That same mantra did not hold on the second pair of boards, though, as GM Bella Khotenashvili had kingside weaknesses galore against IM Lu Miaoyi's Queen's Indian Defense, eventually drawing a back-and-forth game. China's hero for the day was WGM Zhai Mo, who was nominally better against IM Lela Javakhishvili, but capitalized on Javakhishvili's blunder with a stunnnig tactic.

Kazakhstan vs. India, 2-2

With two solid games on boards 1 and 3, IM Alua Nurman's win against GM Vaishali Rameshbabu seemed to have ended India's hopes for 1st, considering the position on board 4. However, IM Savitha Shri B, who was on 6/6 going into this round 8 matchup, found a way to win, tying the match and keeping India's chances for the top finish alive.

Armenia vs. The United States of America, 2.5-1.5

The top two boards canceled each other out, but not in the matter one would have expected: instead of two White wins, owing to White's significant advantage in both games, two draws were on the board (game 1 and 2). Meanwhile, GM Elina Danielian, after some adventures, was able to convert her White advantage in the Queen's Gambit Accepted against GM Irina Krush.

Unfortunately for team USA, IM Tatev Abrahamyan, who was rather worse as White against WIM Susanna Gaboyan, missed one key tactic on move 39 that would have won the game and tied the match.

Other Leaders & Results

• Mongolia won 2.5-1.5 against Bulgaria, with the key game being WGM Turmunkh Munkhzul's game against WGM Nadya Toncheva.
• Greece emerged victorious against Ukraine, winning on boards 1 and 3 and losing on board 4.

Below you can find our interview with IM Stavroula Tsolakidou, who won her game against WFM Anastasiia Hnatyshyn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ_LbHV2amk

• Uzbekistan got the better of the Netherlands, winning 3-1 (boards 1, 2, 3, and 4).

Leaderboard After Round 8

Round 9: China Widens Gap

China vs. Armenia, 3-1

Team China continued to show stellar form, defeating Armenia with two convincing wins by GM Zhu Jiner against IM Lilit Mkrtchian (game) and IM Lu Miaoyi against GM Elina Danielian (game), a solid draw by WGM Zhai Mo against WIM Susanna Gaboyan (game), and a shaky draw by IM Song Yuxin against WGM Mariam Mkrtchyan (game). With two more rounds to go, China is looking great to finish in 1st, despite missing some key players.

Content team member, streamer, and coach WFM Yilin Li caught up with IM Lu Miaoyi after her win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n8mig_wZEs

Kazakhstan vs. Mongolia, 2-2

In an incredibly exciting and decisive match, Kazakhstan and Mongolia traded blows against each other, with Kazakhstan winning on boards 1 and 2 thanks to GM Bibisara Assaubayeva and IM Alua Nurman and Mongolia winning on boards 3 and 4 courtesy of WCM Khishigbaatar Bayasgalan and IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul.

India vs. Uzbekistan, 3-1

India did not face any significant issues aganist Uzbekistan, drawing one advantageous and one disadvantageous game, and winning on boards 2 and 3.

Other Leaders & Results

• Greece continued to impress, drawing 2-2 with Georgia in a match where only the White pieces won (games 1, 2, 3, and 4).
• France defeated Serbia 2.5-1.5, with wins on boards 1 and 3 and a loss on board 4.
• Poland won 2.5-1.5 against Cuba, with wins on boards 1 and 3 and a loss on board 4.

Leaderboard After Round 9

The Biggest Upsets

Round 7

WFM Hannah Wilson (1835) of Barbados played an excellent Nimzo-Indian Defense game against WIM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana (2267) of Sri Lanka.

Other upsets include:

• Maria Belen Carvajal Mendonza (1824) of Chile emerged victorious against WFM Lara Zagorac (2178) of Croatia (game).
• Michid Jargalsaikhan (1921) of South Korea won against FM Johanna Paasikangas (2139) of Finland (game).
• WGM Rouda Essa Alserkal (2036) of the United Arab Emirates defeated WGM Filipa Fortuna Pipiras (2290) of Portugal (game).
• Proudpitcha Suthiponpaisarn (1717) of Thailand got the better of WFM Ednasia Junior (1938) of Angola (game).
• WCM Leung Hoi Ting (1636) of Hong Kong, China drew against WFM Anjum Noshin (2028) of Bangladesh (game).
• Kung Fan-Hsuan (1496) of Chinese Taipei drew against WCM Jully Mutisya (1879) of Kenya (game).

Round 8

Nur Farzana Saiful Azmi (1450) of Brunei Darussalam was able to swindle WCM Diana Bobadilla (1762) of Honduras after keeping all her pieces together.

More upsets:

• Kung Fan-Hsuan (1496) of Chinese Taipei defeated Kato Ami (1755) of Japan (game).
• WFM Zuri Kaloki (1839) of Kenya won against WFM Tan Li Ting (2067) of Malaysia (game).
• Souphaphone Sihanath (1461) of Laos emerged victorious against Alexis Rian Justo (1671) of Guam (game).
• WCM Bonolo Ntsielo (1803) of Lesotho drew against WFM Deborah Ebimobo-ere Quickpen (2174) of Nigeria (game).

Round 9

WFM Chong Kai Ni Agnes (2024) of Malaysia achieved one of the biggest upsets of the tournament against IM Olga Badelka (2424) of Austria.

Additional upsets:

• Kate Attieh (1591) of Lebanon won against WCM Walijah Ahmed (1949) of Bangladesh (game).
• Carol Ndlovu (1718) of Zimbabwe defeated WCM Mia Fernanda Guzman Garcia (2007) of Mexico (game).

Round 10 Pairings