Samarkand to Host the Largest Chess Olympiad in History
Sport
The 46th World Chess Olympiad will open on September 15 at the Silk Road International Tourism Centre in Samarkand. For the first time since the event was launched in 1927, Central Asia will host the world’s largest team chess tournament, which is set to break the record for the number of participating teams.
A total of 398 teams will compete: 208 in the Open section and 190 in the women’s section. This will surpass the previous record of 380 teams set in Budapest in 2024. The Olympiad will feature 1,974 players, including 240 grandmasters. Together with coaches and delegations, more than 4,000 guests are expected in Samarkand. The tournament will consist of 11 rounds and run through September 27.
The city will also host the 3rd Chess Paralympiad from September 10 to 18. A record 41 teams and 196 players, including 150 men and 46 women, will take part. The competition will be held under the Swiss system over seven rounds.
In the Open section, the United States will start as the top-ranked team by average rating, followed by defending champion India and Uzbekistan. The US team includes Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Levon Aronian and Olympiad debutant Hans Niemann. Uzbekistan will field Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev and Shamsiddin Vokhidov. Sindarov and Abdusattorov are among the world’s top 10 players.
India will start the women’s event as the top-ranked team. Kazakhstan will feature Bibisara Assaubayeva, while 16-year-old European champion Anastasia Hnatyshyn will play on Ukraine’s first board.
Uzbekistan’s men’s and women’s teams will make their first appearance with three teams formed from young players. Sixteen-year-olds Nilufarkhon Imamkuziyeva and Khumoyun Begmurodov will make their Olympic debuts. Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, who represented the United States at the 2024 Olympiad, will compete for Uzbekistan this time.
From September 19 to 28, Samarkand will also host the 97th FIDE Congress, expected to bring together heads of more than 200 chess federations. The election of the FIDE president will be held as part of the Congress.
The city will also host the 3rd Chess Paralympiad from September 10 to 18. A record 41 teams and 196 players, including 150 men and 46 women, will take part. The competition will be held under the Swiss system over seven rounds.
In the Open section, the United States will start as the top-ranked team by average rating, followed by defending champion India and Uzbekistan. The US team includes Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Levon Aronian and Olympiad debutant Hans Niemann. Uzbekistan will field Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev and Shamsiddin Vokhidov. Sindarov and Abdusattorov are among the world’s top 10 players.
India will start the women’s event as the top-ranked team. Kazakhstan will feature Bibisara Assaubayeva, while 16-year-old European champion Anastasia Hnatyshyn will play on Ukraine’s first board.
Uzbekistan’s men’s and women’s teams will make their first appearance with three teams formed from young players. Sixteen-year-olds Nilufarkhon Imamkuziyeva and Khumoyun Begmurodov will make their Olympic debuts. Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, who represented the United States at the 2024 Olympiad, will compete for Uzbekistan this time.
From September 19 to 28, Samarkand will also host the 97th FIDE Congress, expected to bring together heads of more than 200 chess federations. The election of the FIDE president will be held as part of the Congress.
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