The Chess Olympiad in Samarkand has reached its eighth round, with host nation Uzbekistan and Germany sharing the lead in the Open section. Both teams have accumulated 14 out of a possible 16 points, despite Uzbekistan's recent loss to Germany in round eight. Three rounds remain in the 400-team tournament, with potential for further upsets.
England's Open team has experienced two losses, first against India, the No 2 seeds, and then in a surprise defeat to Uzbekistan's second team. The England women's team, however, has performed well, with 11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan notably losing only once on top board.
The top pairings for the ninth round on Friday include Uzbekistan versus the United States and India against Germany. These matches are anticipated to be crucial for teams vying for gold and silver medals.