Shamsiddin Vohidov’s Gold Medal Win at the Chess Olympiad
Uzbekistan’s Chess Team Shines at 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest
The 45th Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary, saw Uzbekistan’s national men’s team make a remarkable impression by securing a third-place finish among 189 countries in attendance. One of the standout performers from the Uzbek team was 22-year-old Shamsiddin Vohidov, who clinched a gold medal for his exceptional individual performance on board four. In a recent interview with Kun.uz, Vohidov shared his insights and experiences from the Olympiad, shedding light on his preparation and approach to becoming a successful chess player.
During the Olympiad, Vohidov emphasized the high level of competition, noting that some of the world’s top chess players were vying for glory. Playing on the fourth board, he amassed 8 points out of 10 rounds, securing 6 victories and 4 draws, which ultimately earned him the coveted gold medal. Vohidov crossed paths with opponents from various countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, Moldova, China, India, Vietnam, Egypt, and Croatia. He recalled that the toughest matches were against the Indian team, where all four games concluded in draws. Interestingly, the Indian players only drew against the Uzbekistani team while triumphing over all other adversaries.
As a team, Uzbekistan notched up 8 victories, drew 1 match, and suffered 2 losses, culminating in a stellar performance that landed them in third place overall in the Olympiad standings, trailing behind the United States, India, and China. Upon their return to Uzbekistan, the team was greeted with a grand reception and rewarded with BYD cars and cash prizes, much to the delight of Vohidov and his teammates. “We were all extremely happy to be recognized for our hard work,” Vohidov expressed.
In preparation for the Olympiad, the Uzbek team underwent rigorous training under the mentorship of Vladimir Kramnik, a former world chess champion. Vohidov lauded this training as a masterclass in chess brilliance, where they delved into strategies, tactics, combinations, and quick game analysis. Kramnik also imparted invaluable knowledge on studying opponents, discerning their playing styles, and exploiting their weaknesses.
Vohidov stressed the significance of mental, psychological, and physical preparedness in chess, underlining the need to make swift and precise decisions, regulate emotions, sustain focus, and perform effectively under pressure. He acknowledged that fatigue could be detrimental in chess matches, as a momentary lapse in concentration could lead to a pivotal mistake, resulting in defeat.
To enhance his focus on chess, Vohidov has eliminated distractions from his life, limiting his social media usage and minimizing phone exposure. By dedicating his energy to honing his chess skills and steering clear of potential distractions, Vohidov remains steadfast in his pursuit of achieving remarkable results on the chessboard.
