Uzbekistan and China Take Gold: A Team-Chess Lesson from Samarkand

Retrospective edition for 28 September 2026, published 11 October 2026.

Two gold-medal teams

Uzbekistan won the Open section of the 2026 Chess Olympiad, beating Ukraine 2.5–1.5 in the final round on 27 September. India took silver and Germany bronze. China won the Women's section, ahead of Kazakhstan and India. Uzbekistan's decisive final-round point came from Mukhiddin Madaminov on board four, while the other three games were drawn. Read FIDE's final-round report.

For a player's perspective from the event, watch Lichess's interview with Nodirbek Abdusattorov, linked in its official 27 September updates.

What a team changes

A team result creates room for different contributions. A hard-earned draw can matter alongside a spectacular win. That is a useful lens for reviewing your own chess: look for decisions that helped your position, including the quiet ones.

For this exercise, put the final score aside until the end. Find one moment when you improved your least active piece, reduced your opponent's threats, or chose a sensible simplification. Explain what you were trying to achieve in ordinary language. Then check whether your move actually supported that intention.

This approach can help a review stay useful even after a painful loss. It also gives a partner something specific to discuss beyond whether the result was good or bad.

Run a three-position review

Play a friendly game with enough time for both players to think. Once it is finished, each player chooses one position they found difficult. Together, choose a third position where the game changed direction.

At every stop, answer three questions: what was the immediate threat, what were two reasonable candidate moves, and what reply were you most concerned about? Give each player uninterrupted time to explain.

Only then use a board or analysis tool to test the ideas. If an engine prefers another move, investigate the reply that makes it work. A number alone does not explain the decision.

Keep one short note from each position. You should finish with three things to practise, rather than a long list of mistakes.

Bring the team spirit home

For an informal club evening, pair players for discussion after their games have finished. Rotate partners so newcomers can meet different people. Keep outside advice out of ongoing competitive games.

The community challenge is simple: finish your next session able to describe one good decision your opponent made. Recognising someone else's thinking is a small habit that makes another game easier to arrange.