Two young grandmasters from Uzbekistan, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov, are dominating the early stages of the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Tournament in the Netherlands. Their strong performances highlight the rising prowess of Uzbek chess on the global stage. The tournament, often dubbed the Wimbledon of chess, continues until February 1.
The Tata Steel Chess Tournament, held in the seaside town of Wijk aan Zee, has long attracted chess legends such as Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, and Magnus Carlsen. This year, the 14-participant Masters competition features two standout players from Uzbekistan: 21-year-old Nodirbek Abdusattorov and 20-year-old Javokhir Sindarov, both born in Tashkent.
In the ninth round on Tuesday, Abdusattorov and Sindarov drew against each other, preserving their positions at the top. Abdusattorov leads with six points, while Sindarov holds second place with five and a half points, sharing it with 14-year-old Turkish prodigy Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş and Dutch player Jorden van Foreest. The event runs for 13 rounds, ending on February 1.
Abdusattorov became a grandmaster at age 13 and ranks 12th worldwide with a rating of 2751. He won the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in 2021 and contributed to Uzbekistan's gold medal at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India. Sindarov achieved grandmaster status at 12, ranks 21st with a 2726 rating, and claimed the FIDE World Cup in 2025, earning a spot in this year's Candidates Tournament. The current world champion is India's Gukesh Dommaraju.
“I hope this is just the beginning — the victories of Uzbek chess will only grow from here,” Sindarov said after his World Cup win.
Uzbekistan's success stems from robust school programs and state funding, building on Soviet-era traditions. Rustam Kasimdzhanov, the first Uzbek FIDE world champion in 2004, now heads the men's national team. He noted in a 2024 interview: “They had grandmaster training at an age where – at a corresponding age – I didn’t even know what a grandmaster was.”
Rayhona O’ktamova, in a Chess.com blog, reflected: “It made us realize that we aren’t just ‘participants’ anymore; we are contenders.” She added, “Chess has become our ‘national sport.’ It’s our art, our marathon, and our pride.” Uzbekistan ranks 12th in FIDE national standings and will host the next Chess Olympiad in Samarkand this September. Young talents like 13-year-old Sarvinoz Begmuratova, a new FIDE Woman Master, signal continued growth. This month, Tashkent hosted a national championship for children under six.
