The battle for medals has reached a boiling point as rounds 7 through 9 concluded at the 2026 Samarkand Chess Olympiad. In the Open section, host nation Uzbekistan showed tremendous resilience after a shock round 8 defeat against Germany. Bouncing back emphatically in round 9 to defeat the United States, the Uzbeks reclaimed sole first place on 16/18 match points, aided by Germany's loss to India in the same round. Trailing just one point behind on 15/18 are India, a sensational Uzbekistan 2 squad, and a formidable Armenian team. Six other formidable teams—China, Germany, France, Spain, Ukraine, and Hungary—remain within striking distance on 14/18 match points.

Tactical Masterclasses and Costly Slips

The highly anticipated showdown between Uzbekistan and China turned into a tactical showcase by the young Uzbek grandmasters. Both GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, facing former World Champion GM Ding Liren, and GM Nodirbek Yakubboev, playing against GM Yu Yangyi, secured commanding advantages before move 30 and smoothly converted their edges into decisive victories. On the other boards, GM Javokhir Sindarov demonstrated impeccable theoretical preparation against GM Wei Yi's opening surprise, while GM Mukhiddin Madaminov defended staunchly against GM Xu Xiangyu's deep preparation. Meanwhile, the USA vs. Armenia match ended in heartbreak for the Americans; despite GM Awonder Liang's convincing win over GM Gabriel Sargissian, an uncharacteristic double blunder by GM Wesley So in a rook endgame against GM Robert Hovhannisyan forced team USA to settle for a 2-2 tie.

China Dominates the Women's Section

In the Women's section, China continues its dominant march toward the title. Displaying relentless consistency throughout the event, the Chinese team stands in sole first place with an impressive 17/18 match points. Their closest chasers—India, Kazakhstan, and a surging Mongolian team—remain two points behind on 15/18. With only a few rounds remaining in Samarkand, the stage is set for a thrilling sprint to the podium in both the Open and Women's competitions.