Kazakhstan's women's team defeated France 2.5-1.5 in the tenth round of the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. Heading into the final round, the Kazakh players sit in second place, one point behind China, infohub.kz reports.

Three straight draws had complicated the team's position in the medal race, but in a hard-fought battle the women managed to snatch victory from the French. The decisive point came on board four from Elnaz Kaliakhmet: the young player, with the black pieces, forced Pauline Guichard to stop the clock on move 101.

Kaliakhmet's win was just what the team needed. After Bibisara Assaubayeva won, Meruert Kamalidenova lost and Alua Nurman settled for a draw, the shadow of yet another draw — the fourth in a row — loomed large. Fortunately, Kaliakhmet managed to break open an equal position and grind down her stubborn opponent in the endgame.

Leaders China dropped their second point of the Olympiad. The first draw came against Kazakhstan, the second in the previous round against India. Thanks to India's slip-up, Kazakhstan swapped places with them in the standings once again. Before the final round, the Kazakh women are second.

WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD 2026

Round 10. September 26. Women

KAZAKHSTAN – FRANCE 2.5-1.5

♟️ GM* Bibisara Assaubayeva (2536) – IM Deimante Daulyte-Cornette (2391) 1-0

♟️ GM Marie Sebag (2401) – IM Alua Nurman (2455) 0.5-0.5

♟️ IM Meruert Kamalidenova (2413) – IM Sophie Milliet (2358) 0-1

♟️ IM Pauline Guichard (2344) – WIM Elnaz Kaliakhmet (2347) 0-1

* GM – grandmaster, IM – international master, WIM – woman international master

Kazakhstan's men's team, after beating Turkmenistan 3-1, climbed from 33rd place to 24th. They trail the top ten by just one point.

Uzbekistan-1 leads after defeating Armenia 3.5-0.5 in the penultimate round.

WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD 2026

Round 10. September 26. Men

KAZAKHSTAN – TURKMENISTAN 3-1

♟️ GM* Denis Makhnev (2568) – GM Saparmurat Atabayev (2503) 0.5-0.5

♟️ GM Meylis Annaberdiyev (2384) – IM Sauat Nurgaliyev (2493) 0-1

♟️ GM Ansat Aldiyar (2495) – FM Amanmuhammet Hommadov (2389) 0.5-0.5

♟️ Shahrukh Turayev (2222) – GM Zhandos Agmanov (2490) 0-1

* GM – grandmaster, IM – international master

398 teams, 1,974 players and 240 grandmasters are taking part in the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.

The tournament is played under the Swiss system over 11 rounds. Each team consists of 4 players and 1 reserve. The time control is classical — 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, plus another 30 minutes. Thirty seconds are added after each move.

A team earns two match points for a win and one for a draw. If points are level, additional tiebreakers come into play.

The winners of the men's tournament receive the Lord Frederick Gustavus Hamilton-Russell Cup, and the women's winners receive the Vera Menchik Cup. The federation with the best combined finish of both teams, based on the lowest sum of places, is awarded the Nona Gaprindashvili Cup.