In the eighth round of the 46th Chess Olympiad, the German squad delivered a decisive 2.5‑1.5 victory over the host nation Uzbekistan, snapping the latter’s perfect 7‑match record. The win moves both Germany and Uzbekistan onto 14 points out of a possible 16, with eight other teams trailing by a single point.
How Germany Turned the Tide
The Svane brothers, Grandmasters Frederik and Rasmus, were instrumental on the lower boards. Rasmus secured a win on board four against GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov, while Frederik earned a full point on board three after a complex kingside assault that featured a desperado sacrifice on move 16. Their performance lifted the German total and gave the team a psychological edge.
Board two proved the only setback for Germany, as Uzbekistan’s GM Javokhir Sindarov edged out GM Matthias Bluebaum. Despite the loss, the German side held firm on the top boards, with both brothers describing the result as “a huge win” that puts the team in a strong position with three rounds remaining.
Rasmus Svane, speaking to Chess.com after the match, said, “I can’t remember such a huge win and such a good position for our team. With three rounds to go, we have all the chances in the world!” The German team has now defeated every Uzbek lineup they have faced in the tournament – in rounds two, three and eight – establishing themselves as a formidable “bogey team” for the hosts.
Women’s Section: China Takes the Lead
On the women’s side, China claimed sole leadership after WGM Zhai Mo delivered a dramatic checkmating sequence against IM Lela Javakhishvili of Georgia. The victory gave China a 2.5‑1.5 win over the fourth‑seeded Georgians and pushed the team to the top of the standings.
Kazakhstan appeared poised to join China after IM Alua Nurman defeated GM Vaishali Rameshbabu in a rapid finish. However, India’s 19‑year‑old IM Savitha Shri rescued a critical 2‑2 draw by outplaying WIM Elnaz Kaliakhmet in a tense endgame, improving her personal record to seven wins from seven games. Her win kept India just two points behind China, while Kazakhstan sits one point behind the leaders.
The United States suffered a 2.5‑1.5 loss to Armenia, leaving the American team a point back from the leading trio of China, Kazakhstan and Armenia.
Broader Tournament Highlights
Other notable performances included the United States posting a dominant 3.5‑0.5 win over Serbia, with victories from GMs Fabiano Caruana, Hans Niemann and Awonder Liang. Niemann’s board‑two game featured an exchange sacrifice reminiscent of a 2017 Carlsen‑Aronian encounter, a line his opponent failed to navigate.
In the open section, the Netherlands held Armenia to a 2‑2 draw after GM Jorden van Foreest’s 6.5/7 score earned a 2,972 performance rating – the highest of any player in the event so far. Van Foreest’s win on board two offset a loss on board three, preserving the Dutch team’s 13‑point total.
India and Azerbaijan also finished their match with all four games drawn, while GM Gukesh Dommaraju, despite holding a theoretically winning endgame against GM Mahammad Muradli, settled for a draw on board three.
Uzbekistan’s board two featured a narrow win for Sindarov against Bluebaum, while GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, down a pawn in an endgame, was unable to turn the tide against GM Vincent Keymer. The match ultimately proved beyond rescue for Uzbekistan.
Turkey, currently the best‑tied team on 12 points, earned a 2.5‑1.5 victory over Canada, with 15‑year‑old GM Yagiz Erdogmus posting a 2,893 performance rating – the highest among top‑board players.
Looking ahead, round nine is scheduled for Friday, September 25, with Germany set to face India and Uzbekistan slated to challenge the top‑seeded United States. The outcomes of these pairings are expected to shape the final medal picture.
Overall, the Olympiad remains tightly contested, with only six teams within two points of the lead after eight rounds. The next set of matches will likely determine which nations secure the coveted gold medals.
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