Nodirbek Abdusattorov Signs Up for Battle at Miami as USA and Uzbekistan Clash for Olympiad Top Prize

Nodirbek Abdusattorov and the Uzbekistan team are set to face off against the USA in a crucial match at Miami, with the world's top chess teams competing for the Olympiad top prize in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

What happened?

The USA and Uzbekistan teams will meet at Miami on 27-28 July in an all-play-all rapid and blitz Scheveningen format, which is sure to create interest as a guide to what may happen when the 200-nation classical Olympiad takes place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 15-27 September.

Why it matters for Nodirbek Abdusattorov

The two teams in Miami will both be at virtually full strength, with the USA fielding the world Nos 2 and 3, Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, plus the world No 7, Wesley So, and world Nos 17 and 22, Leinier Domínguez and Levon Aronian. Uzbekistan will include the world Nos 4 and 6, Javokhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the world No 39, Nodirbek Yakubboev, the world No 62, Shamsiddin Vokhidov, and the world No 132, Mukhiddin Madaminov.

What comes next?

The vastly experienced US team, winners of six Olympiad gold medals, have an average age of 38, while their opponents clock in at just 21. This age difference is a significant factor, as the US team's experience and skill will be put to the test against the younger and hungrier Uzbekistan team.

The stakes are high

The Miami match is sponsored by WR Chess's Wadim Rosenstein as part of his campaign to become the new president of Fide. Voting will take place during the Olympiad at the Fide general assembly in Samarkand, where Rosenstein's rivals will be the incumbent president, Russia's Arkady Dvorkovich, and Rosenstein's fellow German multi-millionaire Jan Henric Buettner, whose running mate will be England's international director, Malcolm Pein.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov's schedule

Abdusattorov is cutting it fine, with only one day between Chennai and Miami. He will be competing in the Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters, an elite classical GM single round all-play-all, which began on Thursday morning in Chennai, India. Seven of the eight competitors are rated above Fide 2700.

Round one results

Abdusattorov 0.5 Niemann, Arjun Erigaisi (India) 0.5 Dmitry Andreikin (Fide/Russia), Pranesh Munirethinam (India) 0-1 Alireza Firouzja (France), Gukesh Dommaraju (India) 0.5 Nihal Sarin (India). Games are viewable on lichess starting at 10am BST.

A young prodigy

Supratit Banerjee advanced closer to a record-breaking international master title at age 12 when the Sutton Grammar pupil achieved his second IM norm last week at an invitational event in Sheffield. Banerjee now needs just one more IM norm, plus a 2400+ published rating, for which he is close, to become one of the world's youngest IMs.

The future of chess

The Miami match is not just a battle for the Olympiad top prize, but also a showcase for the future of chess. The young and talented players from Uzbekistan, including Nodirbek Abdusattorov, will be looking to make a statement against the experienced US team.