Samarkand R9 (women): China now two points ahead of closest chasers

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
9/26/2026 – China moved two match points clear at the top of the Women's Chess Olympiad after beating Armenia 3–1 in round nine. India kept pace with a 3–1 victory over Uzbekistan, while Kazakhstan recovered from a 2–0 deficit to draw Mongolia. With two rounds remaining, China lead on 17/18, followed by India, Kazakhstan and Mongolia on 15/18. | Photo: Rafal Oleksiewicz / FIDE
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China take down Armenia

China strengthened their position at the top of the Women's Chess Olympiad in round nine, defeating Armenia 3–1 to move two match points clear of their nearest rivals with only two rounds remaining.

The fourth seeds are now on 17/18 match points, having won eight matches and drawn one. India, Kazakhstan and Mongolia form the closest chasing group on 15/18, while six more teams stand another point back on 14/18.

China's win over Armenia came through victories on boards one and three. Zhu Jiner defeated Lilit Mkrtchian, while Lu Miaoyi beat Elina Danielian. Song Yuxin and Zhai Mo drew their games, leaving China with a clear 3–1 result.

The pairing carried some extra significance after Armenia had beaten China at the 2024 Olympiad, with Zhu and Lu both losing in that match. This time, the two Chinese players reversed those individual outcomes and helped their team consolidate first place. Zhu has also continued a strong individual event and remains one of China's most reliable scorers.

India close the gap with a clear win

India responded well after drawing former co-leaders Kazakhstan in round eight, defeating hosts Uzbekistan 3–1.

The decisive points came from Divya Deshmukh and Vantika Agrawal. Divya defeated Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova on board two, while Vantika beat Nilufarkhon Imomkuzieva on board three. Humpy Koneru and Savitha Shri drew their games - this was Savitha's first draw in the event, as she started with an astounding 7 wins from 7 games.

The result lifted the defending champions to 15/18 and second place on tiebreaks. Deshmukh and Vantika both remain unbeaten in Samarkand, and their wins ensured that India will enter the penultimate round with a direct chance to challenge the leaders.

That opportunity comes immediately: China and India will face each other in round ten on Saturday. With a two-point gap between them, the result of that match will have a major effect on the final standings.

Kazakhstan recover to hold Mongolia

Bibisara Assaubayeva

Bibisara Assaubayeva | Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

Third seeds Kazakhstan also reached 15/18, but only after recovering from a difficult start against Mongolia.

Mongolia took a 2–0 lead on the lower boards, with Khishigbaatar Bayasgalan defeating Meruert Kamalidenova and Batkhuyag Munguntuul beating Zarina Nurgaliyeva. Kazakhstan then struck back on the top two boards: Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Bat-Erdene Mungunzul, while Alua Nurman beat Turmunkh Munkhzul to salvage a 2–2 draw.

Bat-Erdene Mungunzul on board one | Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

Nurman's result was particularly important, as it prevented Mongolia from moving to within one point of China. Kazakhstan remain unbeaten as a team after nine rounds, with six wins and three draws.

Mongolia, seeded 15th, nevertheless continue to be one of the notable performers of the tournament. Their 15/18 score leaves them level with India and Kazakhstan and very much in contention heading into the final weekend.

Six teams follow on 14/18

France, Armenia, Poland, Vietnam, Indonesia and Greece make up the next group on 14/18.

France edged Serbia 2½–1½ in a match featuring three decisive games. Deimante Daulyte-Cornette and Pauline Guichard scored the French wins, while Sofia Pogorelskikh replied for Serbia.

Poland also won by the narrowest margin, beating Cuba 2½–1½. Oliwia Kiolbasa and Klaudia Kulon scored victories for Poland, while Ineymig Hernandez Gil won for Cuba.

Vietnam produced one of the clearest results among the chasing teams, defeating Bulgaria 3½–½. Wins for Thi Kim Phung Vo, Ngoc Thuy Duong Bach and Thi Mai Hung Nguyen lifted the 21st seeds into the group on 14 points.

Indonesia also reached 14/18 with a notable 2½–1½ victory over Germany, while Greece held second-seeded Georgia to a 2–2 draw.

China and India meet in penultimate round

Saturday's tenth round will bring the most important pairing of the women's event so far, with China facing India. A Chinese victory would give them a four-point advantage with only one round remaining, while an Indian win would bring the defending champions level on match points before the final round.

Kazakhstan will face France, Mongolia will meet Poland, Armenia will play Greece, while Vietnam and Indonesia - two of the lower-seeded teams still in the leading group - will face each other.

With two rounds to go, China have created the clearest lead seen so far in the women's section, but India, Kazakhstan and Mongolia remain close enough to keep the race open.

Standings after round 9

Rk. SNo FED Team Group Games + = - TB1 TB2 TB3 TB4
1 4 CHN
China A 9 8 1 0 17 299 28 101
2 1 IND
India A 9 7 1 1 15 305 27 106
3 3 KAZ
Kazakhstan A 9 6 3 0 15 274 24,5 109
4 15 MGL
Mongolia A 9 7 1 1 15 243,5 23,5 103
5 8 FRA
France A 9 7 0 2 14 262,5 26,5 95
6 16 ARM
Armenia A 9 7 0 2 14 250 23,5 105
7 9 POL
Poland A 9 7 0 2 14 245,5 23,5 105
8 21 VIE
Vietnam A 9 7 0 2 14 234 25 94
9 35 INA
Indonesia A 9 7 0 2 14 219,5 24,5 89
10 24 GRE
Greece A 9 6 2 1 14 206 23 91
11 5 USA
United States of America A 9 6 1 2 13 258 25,5 100
12 2 GEO
Georgia A 9 5 3 1 13 255 24 105
13 20 ENG
England A 9 6 1 2 13 248 26,5 88
14 7 AZE
Azerbaijan A 9 6 1 2 13 248 25 98
15 13 UZB
Uzbekistan A 9 6 1 2 13 247 24 102
16 39 PER
Peru B 9 6 1 2 13 234 25 94
17 23 ROU
Romania A 9 6 1 2 13 224,5 25,5 86
18 12 NED
Netherlands A 9 5 3 1 13 220 23,5 93
19 25 SLO
Slovenia A 9 6 1 2 13 217 24 93
20 22 ISR
Israel A 9 6 1 2 13 202 23,5 86
21 11 BUL
Bulgaria A 9 6 0 3 12 260 24 107
22 30 IRI
Iran A 9 6 0 3 12 235 24,5 97
23 14 SRB
Serbia A 9 5 2 2 12 228 23 98
24 17 SUI
Switzerland A 9 5 2 2 12 225 23,5 95
25 32 BLR
Belarus A 9 5 2 2 12 223 24,5 86
26 10 GER
Germany A 9 6 0 3 12 222,5 21 104
27 38 CAN
Canada A 9 5 2 2 12 216 24 89
28 40 CRO
Croatia B 9 6 0 3 12 214,5 23,5 95
29 6 UKR
Ukraine A 9 6 0 3 12 213 22,5 94
30 26 TUR
Turkiye A 9 5 2 2 12 206 22,5 93

...189 teams

All games - Round 9

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Topics: Chess Olympiad 2026
Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
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Samarkand R9 (open): Uzbekistan retake sole lead after beating the US

9/26/2026 – Uzbekistan regained sole first place in the Chess Olympiad by beating top seeds United States 2½–1½ in round nine, with Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Nodirbek Yakubboev again providing the decisive points - like they did against China in round seven. India, Armenia and the over-achieving Uzbekistan 2 are one match point behind, the latter after a striking 3½–½ victory over the Netherlands. Two rounds remain in Samarkand. | Photo: Rafal Oleksiewicz / FIDE
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