Anish Giri commented on Team Uzbekistan’s victory at the Chess Olympiad 2026. Giri says that Uzbekistan has proven that hard work leads to success. Giri notes that Uzbekistan lived up to its own expectations.

Anish Giri

Anish Giri

Netherlands' No. 1

“For me, who is a fan of hard work and justice, it’s good to see that hard work and professionalism, the values that I so much appreciate and try to stand by, that they are real.

And the team of Uzbekistan that prepared so hard and did their utmost best delivered for themselves.”

The Chess Olympiad 2026 took place from September 16 to 27 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Team Uzbekistan won the tournament with 20 points and a 2-point lead. Uzbekistan won the Chess Olympiad for the second time in history.

Credit: Michal Walusza / FIDE