The Grand Finale of the Samarkand Chess Olympiad: Champions, Drones, and Fireworks
Fireworks, Drones and Champions: The Grand Finale of the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand
Two weeks of intense chess battles came to an end where the tournament itself had begun — in Samarkand. On September 27, 2026, the 46th Chess Olympiad drew to a close, leaving behind not only medals and final standings, but also an impressive spectacle worthy of one of the biggest events on the global chess calendar.
The closing evening brought together sport, music, dance, a spectacular light show and modern technology. The main stars of the ceremony, however, were the people the chess world had been following throughout 11 rounds in Samarkand — the teams and players who won the medals.
The Last Move — and the Celebration Begins
The Olympiad was held from September 15 to 27, with around 400 teams taking part: 208 in the Open section and 192 in the Women's section. After 11 rounds, it was time to crown the champions and bring one of the biggest chess events of 2026 to a symbolic close.
In the Open section, Uzbekistan celebrated a historic triumph. The hosts defeated Ukraine 2.5–1.5 to win Olympic gold for the second time in their history, following their success in Chennai in 2022. India took silver, while Germany claimed bronze.
The Women's tournament ended with China taking the title. The Chinese team defeated Vietnam 3–1, Kazakhstan won silver, while India secured bronze on tiebreak after drawing with Georgia.
Thus, the final game of the Olympiad was only the beginning of the closing celebration.
Samarkand Turns Into a Stage
The closing ceremony took place at the Eternal City amphitheatre, one of Samarkand's most recognizable venues. The evening began with the medal ceremonies before gradually transforming into a large-scale show featuring music, dance, spectacular visual effects and a festive atmosphere.
The organizers focused on more than traditional chess symbolism. The finale was designed to highlight the character of modern Samarkand — a city where ancient cultural heritage meets modern technology and major international events.
That is why the closing ceremony felt more like a major international festival than a conventional ending to a sporting tournament.
From Team Medals to Individual Achievements
A special part of the program was dedicated to players who recorded the best performances on their respective boards.
In the Open section, the individual gold medals went to:
* Nodirbek Abdusattorov — Board 1;
* Wei Yi — Board 2;
* Frederik Svane — Board 3;
* Igor Samunenkov — Board 4;
* Gleb Dudin — reserve board.
Abdusattorov finished the Olympiad with a performance rating of 2869 and was one of the tournament's standout individual performers. Dudin also had an exceptional Olympiad: his victory over Gukesh in the final round helped India secure the silver medal, while the German grandmaster himself received individual gold on the first reserve board.
Another major trophy, the Gaprindashvili Cup for the best combined result in the Open and Women's sections, went to India.
The Best Teams Receive Another Award
Before the main medal ceremonies, the organizers also recognized the winners of five rating categories, from A to E.
In the Open section, the category winners were the United States, Vietnam, Ecuador, Pakistan and Qatar. In the Women's section, the corresponding awards went to the United States, Croatia, Sri Lanka, Ghana and the Maldives.
This highlighted the Olympiad as more than a competition centered on a handful of favorites. Behind the champions' medals were hundreds of teams, each with its own story, ambitions and battle for results.
Chess Goes Beyond the Board
One of the most unusual moments of the ceremony was the award for the best team uniforms.
Participants brought national colors, traditional elements of clothing and distinctive team kits to Samarkand. The awards were ultimately presented in three categories — classic, sporting and original. Among the teams recognized were Hong Kong, Jamaica, South Africa, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Mali.
The episode highlighted one of the defining features of the Chess Olympiad: it is not only a competition between grandmasters, but also a celebration of national teams, cultures and chess communities from around the world.
Fireworks and Drones Bring the Evening to a Close
As the official program came to an end, Samarkand turned into a huge celebration venue.
Music, dance performances, lighting effects, fireworks and a drone show provided the final act of the evening. The organizers aimed to make the closing ceremony as spectacular as the Olympiad itself.
After 11 rounds of intense competition, the chessboard gave way to the stage, while sporting emotions were replaced by the atmosphere of a grand celebration.
The Olympiad Passes the Torch
Yet even the most spectacular finale does not mean the end of the chess story.
One of the symbolic moments of the ceremony was the handover of the Olympic flag. Representatives of Uzbekistan passed it to the delegation of the United Arab Emirates, which will host the next Chess Olympiad in 2028.
In this way, Samarkand officially passed the chess torch to the next host of the Olympiad.
Samarkand Will Remember This Olympiad
The 46th Chess Olympiad came to an end on a scale that matched the event itself. There were tense team matches, unexpected results, battles between the favorites, individual heroics and a historic victory for the hosts.
And then there was music, light, drones and fireworks.
For two weeks, Samarkand was one of the world's chess capitals. On the final evening, the chessboard seemed to dissolve into a sea of festive lights, but one thing remained unchanged: behind every trophy and every medal were the people who made this Olympiad part of chess history.
Now, as the final lights fade, the chess torch moves on — toward the 2028 Chess Olympiad in the United Arab Emirates.