Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov returned home as heroes following their first- and second-place finishes at the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Dressed in traditional Uzbek attire, they were greeted with bouquets, hugs, and media attention at Tashkent International Airport. The warm reception underscores Uzbekistan's growing passion for chess, rivaling India's own enthusiasm for the game.
The Tata Steel Chess tournament, held in the chilly Dutch town of Wijk aan Zee, marked the year's first major classical event, drawing top global talents. Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov clinched victory, with compatriot Javokhir Sindarov securing silver, a feat that electrified their nation. Upon landing in Tashkent, the duo was immediately adorned in chopon robes and doppi caps, symbols of cultural pride, amid a flurry of embraces and camera flashes.
This hero's welcome echoed the fervor seen in India when D Gukesh returned from his 2024 Candidates triumph in Toronto, mobbed by schoolchildren in Chennai. In Uzbekistan, chess has ascended to celebrity status. Recall Sindarov's 2023 FIDE World Cup win in Goa: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev halted a national event to announce it, prompting stadium-wide cheers, before a personal video call. Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov joined the airport reception, alongside sports officials, flag-waving youth, and a marching band.
Rewards followed suit. Sindarov earned a three-room apartment, around $10,000 in cash, and the 'Honored Athlete' title. Similar honors marked past glories: the 2022 Chennai Olympiad gold for the Uzbek team, including Abdusattorov and Sindarov, brought two-room apartments and Chevrolet Equinox SUVs. Abdusattorov himself received an apartment for his 2021 World Rapid Championship.
Government backing fuels this rise. As Abdusattorov noted in a 2024 interview, "The government does a good job supporting everything from training camps to travel and expenses." Chess ranks among Uzbekistan's top sports, behind football and boxing, bolstered by historical roots—artifacts from the Kushan era (1st-2nd centuries) and Samarkand finds (7th-8th centuries) attest to its ancient presence.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan offers redemption. The team—Sindarov, Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, and Jakhongir Vakhidov—aims to reclaim gold lost to India in Budapest 2024. Abdusattorov reflected, "We are definitely looking forward to having a kind of revenge for Budapest." With India's deep bench a challenge, Uzbekistan's prodigies are poised to shine on home soil, mirroring their nation's evolving chess legacy.
