UTRGV’s Gleb Dudin defeats world chess champion at 2026 Chess Olympiad

By Mia Morales

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – OCT. 8, 2026 – UTRGV senior Gleb Dudin defeated reigning world chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, adding a major international victory to his collegiate chess career.

The tournament, held Sept. 15–27 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, was Dudin’s first Olympiad. Representing Hungary was “a dream come true,” he said.

Dudin, a grandmaster, defeated Dommaraju in the final round after 59 moves, helping Hungary secure a 2-2 draw against India.

“I was in great position from the opening. I had seen I had the advantage pretty much most of the game,” Dudin said. “You don’t necessarily have to be seven to 10 steps ahead, I think the best players, like world champions, like Mangus Carlsen and Anatoly Karpov, it’s enough to be two or three steps ahead.”

Dudin, a psychology major, also earned an individual gold medal, finishing with 8 points in 10 games and a performance rating of 2738. Hungary placed seventh in the open section, though the team had hoped to win bronze, Dudin said.

“It was very exciting. I genuinely love team events. They’re my favorite. We had a long time preparing for this with our national team, so I felt some pressure on me as a newcomer,” Dudin said. “It was the best experience of my life.”

Bartek Macieja, UTRGV chess team head coach and director, said the Olympiad is one of the sport’s most prestigious events. He attributed Dudin’s performance to years of preparation.

“Gleb’s approach to chess is that he is very much oriented on achieving those great results and he tries to work very hard. So, it’s not like Gleb woke up and defeated the world champion. Those were years of very hard work and making it possible,” Macieja said.

PATH TO UTRGV

Dudin began playing chess at age 8, joining a local club and competing in small tournaments.

“We played chess in my family. I played with my grandpa,” he said. “After I won my first tournament, I got interested and my parents took me to chess summer camp and that’s how it all started.”

In 2023, Dudin enrolled at UTRGV through the university’s chess scholarship program. At the time, he held the title of international master.

“I was playing a tournament in Montenegro when my mother called me and said that there’s an offer from Coach Bartek to go study in America and get a chess scholarship in UTRGV. I took some time to think and after 30 minutes, I called her back and said, ‘We should set up the call,’” Dudin said.

Macieja recognized his potential early.

“When Gleb arrived in Brownsville in 2023, he was still an international master, but I already saw lots of growing potential in his games,” Macieja said.

By 2026, Dudin had earned the title of grandmaster, the highest title awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), and reached a FIDE rating of 2560.

NEXT MOVE

Back at UTRGV, Dudin is turning his attention to his role as chess team captain. He and his teammates are preparing for the 2026 Texas Collegiate Super Finals, set for Oct. 17-18 at the Student Union on the Brownsville campus.

UTRGV has won four national championships, known as President’s Cups, in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2025. The U.S. Chess Federation named UTRGV Chess College of the Year in 2018, 2019 and 2025, and named Macieja Collegiate Chess Coach of the Year in 2025.

“It’s, of course, great to have so many great results and every year we are trying our best. At UTRGV we have support from the community and that highly motivates the students,” Macieja said.

For updates and more information about the UTRGV chess team, visit utrgv.edu/chess/team/