Uzbekistan's unstoppable squad just put the championship out of reach.
The hosts demolished China 3-1 in round seven to post a perfect 7-0-0 record and build a lead so commanding that they could afford a loss and still clinch outright. This wasn't a close match decided by tiebreaks or rating strength. Uzbekistan brought hammer blows when it mattered.
The performance hinged on a peculiar advantage: two Nodirbeks. Nodirbek Abdusattorov crushed Ding Liren on board one. Nodirbek Yakubboey beat Yu Yangyi on board two. These weren't fluky wins. When your two best players both deliver at the same table, your opponents have nowhere to hide.
The matchup itself carried weight. Uzbekistan and China entered round seven as the two leading teams. This was the kind of clash where one nation takes control and the other retreats into damage control. Uzbekistan controlled it from the first move.
What makes this performance remarkable is the depth required to go undefeated through a team championship. You cannot rely on one superstar carrying deadweight. You need your entire lineup clicking. Abdusattorov and Yakubboey provided the statement wins, but their supporting cast held position. That's how teams build seven-point untouched records.
Uzbekistan's margin now gives them real breathing room heading into the final rounds. Even a draw or loss won't jeopardize first place if they stay competitive elsewhere on the board. This transforms their remaining matches from must-win territory into luxury territory. China, by contrast, suffered the kind of deflating loss that makes climbing back nearly impossible in the back half of a tournament. They dropped two boards in one sitting. Recovery gets harder each round.
The two Nodirbeks also highlight Uzbekistan's roster depth in a region that has produced serious chess talent over the past decade. Abdusattorov and Yakubboey represent the next wave of players who could contend at the world championship level. In this tournament, they're content to simply dominate domestically and internationally at once.
Uzbekistan plays out its remaining rounds with genuine security. China faces a battle just to finish second. The message from round seven was unmistakable: Uzbekistan came to win, they're winning, and you won't stop them.