Germany's brothers delivered the killing blow. Frederik and Rasmus Svane both won their games on boards three and four to hand Uzbekistan its first loss of the tournament, ending a dominant run that had stretched across six straight rounds. The final score: Germany 2.5, Uzbekistan 1.5.
This was the result the Open section had been waiting for. Uzbekistan looked untouchable after round six, but the Svane brothers turned the match into a bloodbath in the bottom half of the board. Nodirbek Yakubboev and Shamsiddin Vokhidov both fell to the German siblings, a pattern now repeating itself. Round seven, the brothers showed up. Round eight, the brothers showed up again.
Javokhir Sindarov kept Uzbekistan from a complete washout, beating Matthias Bluebaum on board two. But one win cannot salvage a 2.5-1.5 defeat when your top boards are meant to be your fortress.
The Svane brothers have become the engine of Germany's team play at this event. They're not household names at the elite level, but in team competition, they've proven to be the team's steady foundation. When Frederik and Rasmus both deliver wins in consecutive rounds, you win matches. When they convert against a strong opponent like Uzbekistan's lower-board players, you beat favorites.
For Uzbekistan, this loss stings because it came at home. The psychological edge of playing on familiar ground evaporates when brothers from Berlin outplay your players in critical positions. Uzbekistan still has games left and can recover, but the narrative has shifted. They are mortal. They can be beaten.
For Germany, this is the kind of round that builds team morale and momentum heading into the final rounds. The Svane brothers have become the story of their campaign. It's not about a single grandmaster's brilliance. It's about consistent, reliable chess from players the opposition underestimated.
The bottom boards often decide team matches, and the Svanes understand this better than most. They showed up twice in two rounds. That's the difference between a team that peaks for one round and a team that sustains excellence across multiple rounds.