In a message published on September 27, Mirziyoyev praised the team for its performance against some of the world’s strongest chess nations and said the victory had brought pride to the country. The 46th Chess Olympiad brought together nearly 2,000 players and more than 200 national teams in Samarkand.
“You are the heroes of New Uzbekistan, a golden generation that has written a new page in the history of world chess. Our entire nation is immensely proud of you,” Mirziyoyev said.
He highlighted Uzbekistan’s victories over defending champions India, China and the United States during the tournament. China has a long-standing chess tradition and numerous grandmasters, while the US entered the competition as the world’s top-ranked team and a six-time Chess Olympiad champion.
Mirziyoyev also praised Uzbekistan’s performance at the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities, held alongside the main event in Samarkand. The Uzbek team won a bronze medal, marking the country’s first medal in the competition. FIDE said the event brought together a record 41 teams representing players with visual, hearing and physical impairments.
The president said the latest achievement reflected the attention given to chess development in Uzbekistan, as well as the country’s established system for supporting the sport and creating conditions for young players. He also referred to a recently adopted presidential decree, saying it would provide a foundation for further results in the coming years.
Mirziyoyev said the victory was particularly meaningful because it was achieved in Samarkand, a city with more than 3,000 years of history and culture that became one of the centers of the Second Renaissance in the 14th–15th centuries.
He also expressed hope that Javokhir Sindarov would win the world chess championship title in November. Sindarov was part of Uzbekistan’s Olympiad-winning team and was the country’s top-rated player heading into the tournament.
Uzbekistan finished the Open section with 20 points from 22 possible after 11 rounds. India took silver with 18 points, while Germany won bronze with 18. Uzbekistan defeated Ukraine 2.5–1.5 in the final round to secure the title.
