First place and second place both go to Uzbekistan

From January 16 to February 1 this year, one of the world’s most prestigious chess tournaments, Tata Steel Chess 2026, was held in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands. Representatives of Uzbekistan finished in first and second place, becoming the tournament’s dominant force.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov was crowned the outright champion of the tournament. He collected 9 points over 13 rounds, finishing ahead of all his rivals and securing the title without the need for tie-breaks. Notably, this marked Abdusattorov’s first championship victory at the Tata Steel tournament in his fifth appearance. The win also allowed him to return to the world’s top five in the international chess rankings.

Javokhir Sindarov also delivered an impressive performance. He went through the entire tournament without a single defeat, demonstrating consistent and confident play to claim the silver medal. Of particular note, this was Sindarov’s debut at the Tata Steel tournament. Thanks to this strong result, he climbed from 21st to 11th place in the world rankings, recording the highest ranking of his career.

Today, the achievements of Uzbek grandmasters on the international stage are being widely recognized by the global chess community. These successes are further boosting interest in chess across the country and contributing to the growing popularity of the sport among younger generations.

For reference, Nodirbek Abdusattorov will represent Uzbekistan once again at the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship, which will take place in Germany from February 13 to 15.

Behzod Shamsutdinov