The 46th Chess Olympiad Has Begun

2026-09-16 10:30:00 / News

Central Asia Is Hosting the Chess Olympiad for the First Time

The world’s largest team chess competition — the 46th Chess Olympiad — has officially begun in Samarkand. For the first time in the history of the prestigious tournament, which has been held since 1927, Central Asia is hosting the Chess Olympiad.

This year’s event also stands out for its unprecedented scale. A total of 397 teams are competing in Samarkand: 207 in the Open section and 190 in the Women’s section. This marks a new record in the history of the Chess Olympiad. The previous record was set in Budapest in 2024, with 380 teams taking part.

A total of 1,970 chess players, including 238 grandmasters, are competing in the Olympiad. Together with coaches and delegation members, Samarkand will welcome more than 4,000 guests during the tournament. The competition consists of 11 rounds and will continue through September 27.

Opening Ceremony at the “Eternal City”

The official opening ceremony of the 46th Chess Olympiad was held at the “Eternal City” complex in Samarkand. During the ceremony, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan delivered remarks and read out a message from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan addressed to the participants and guests of the Olympiad.

Acting FIDE President Viswanathan Anand also congratulated the participants on the start of the competition and wished the teams success. During the ceremony, a draw was held to determine which color would make the first move in the opening round.

The opening ceremony’s artistic programme combined national culture with modern technology. It featured stage performances, 3D mapping, and a drone light show.

Leading National Teams Gather in Samarkand

In the Open section, the United States is the top seed based on average team rating. Its lineup includes Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, and Hans Niemann, who is making his Chess Olympiad debut. India, winner of the 2024 Olympiad, enters the competition as the second seed, while Uzbekistan ranks third by average team rating.

Leading European teams have also arrived in Samarkand with strong lineups. Germany features Vincent Keymer, while Maxime Vachier-Lagrave represents France. In the Women’s section, India is the top seed based on average team rating.

The Kazakhstan national team features Bibisara Assaubayeva, a three-time World Blitz Champion and winner of Norway Chess Women 2026. On the first board for Ukraine is 16-year-old European champion and Woman Grandmaster Anastasiia Hnatyshyn.

The Olympiad in Samarkand is therefore bringing together the world’s leading grandmasters and a new generation of rising talents on one stage.

Uzbekistan Competes with Three Teams

This year’s Olympiad also has a special significance for host nation Uzbekistan. For the first time, the country is fielding three teams in both the Open and Women’s sections, with young chess players widely represented in the lineups.

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Uzbekistan’s main team in the Open section features grandmasters Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, and Shamsiddin Vokhidov, all of whom have achieved strong results on the international stage.

The women’s national team also combines experience with young talent. Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, who represented the United States at the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest, is representing Uzbekistan this time. Afruza Khamdamova is also among the national team’s highest-rated players. The Olympiad is particularly significant for 16-year-old Nilufarkhon Imomkuzieva and Humoyun Begmurodov, who are making their Chess Olympiad debuts.

Former World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov has been appointed captain of Uzbekistan’s men’s team, while Nafisa Muminova, Uzbekistan’s first female grandmaster, is serving as captain of the women’s team.

Over the past year, Uzbekistan’s men’s national team has climbed 13 places in the FIDE team rankings to reach 6th place among 204 countries. The women’s team has moved up six places to 21st.

A Record in Para Chess as Well

Samarkand is currently hosting not only the 46th Chess Olympiad but also the 3rd Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities. This year, a record 41 teams are taking part. By comparison, 26 teams competed in Belgrade in 2023 and 34 in Astana in 2024.

A total of 198 chess players — 152 men and 46 women — are competing. The tournament is being played over seven rounds under the Swiss system. The growing number of participants also reflects the expanding international reach of the event.

Key Issues in World Chess to Be Discussed in Samarkand

Alongside the Olympiad, Samarkand will also host the 97th FIDE Congress from September 19 to 28. Leaders and representatives of more than 200 national chess federations are expected to attend. The election of the FIDE President will also take place during the Congress.

Thus, Samarkand is simultaneously hosting the Chess Olympiad, the Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities, and the FIDE Congress this September.

The 46th Chess Olympiad will continue through September 27. After 11 rounds, the champions of the Open and Women’s sections will be determined.

We wish our young and promising chess players great success at this historic event, which is setting an all-time record with 397 participating teams!

Youth policy

Latest update: 2026-09-16 10:54:21

Youth Affairs Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan

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