Samarkand ready for a record-breaking Chess Olympiad
For centuries, Samarkand stood at the crossroads of civilisations. Merchants, scholars and travellers crossed the ancient Silk Road, carrying ideas and cultures from one part of the world to another. Now, another kind of journey will bring the world to the legendary city: 400 chess teams from across the globe will gather for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad. Every two years, national teams from almost every corner of the globe meet across the board, to celebrate the game’s extraordinary international reach.From September 16 (round one) to the 27, Samarkand will feature 208 teams in the Open section and 192 teams in the Women’s event. The figure smashes the previous record of 380 teams set in Budapest in 2024. Players, arbiters, coaches and captains have already started to arrive. Although the bulk of the participants will join the event tomorrow, many of us flew in early this morning on a plane packed with International Grandmasters. On arrival, the special bus decoration immediately caught my attention – the local organisation team have not left anything to chance! Instead of caravans crossing the ancient routes, on this occasion modern transports such as the modern Uzbekistan 210km/hAfrosiyob fast train will connect players, cultures and ideas between East and West. Numbers aside, the Olympiad is unique because it combines the highest level of competitive chess with the opportunity for federations at very different stages of development to share the same stage.And there is definitely no shortage of sporting intrigue! Team India arrive as the defending Open champions after their historic triumph in Budapest, while the United States, China, Germany are among many other established chess powers seeking gold. In a recent interview, India’s captain GM Srinath Narayanan reflected on his team’s chances: “Defending an Olympiad title is always a tough challenge. But this Indian team has a lot going for it. There is continuity in the squad, the players are more experienced. India has brilliant depth across the boards.” Of course, the home team Uzbekistan, surprise winners in 2022, will also carry enormous expectations, having emerged as one of the leading chess nations of the new generation. The Women’s Olympiad promises an equally compelling competition. India will do their best to defend their 2024 title but a deep field of ambitious emerging federations have travelled far and wide to challenge them. Both the Open line-up and the Women’s line-up were discussed in detail in our previous sports preview a few weeks ago. Winning an Olympiad is a test of consistency as much as strength. Over 11 rounds, every team will face moments when it is expected to win, moments when it must defend, and inevitably a few matches where everything is at stake. The challenge is to keep the four players performing together day after day. As in relay teams or rowing crews, one exceptional performer cannot compensate indefinitely for weaknesses elsewhere. Captains must constantly judge in their pre-match strategy when to push for victory and when a solid result is the best practical choice. In an event this long and competitive, maintaining the right balance throughout the two weeks can be as important as playing the strongest chess.There is no single road to the podium: each team will create its own tournament as the rounds unfold. And yet the 46th Olympiad is about much more than the two main events.For the next two weeks, Samarkand will become the capital of world chess.The 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities is currently in full swing, bringing together a record 41 teams representing players with visual, hearing and physical impairments. And off the board, the FIDE Congress and elections will take place, during which the international chess community will discuss the future direction of the sport. One of the key commissions will be the FIDE Summit on Chess in Education, scheduled for September 24, congregating educators, policymakers and researchers together as part of FIDE’s 2026 Year of Chess in Education. On a more technical note, the important meeting for team captains will be held at the Tashkent Ball room in the Hilton Samarkand Regency hotel at 3 PM on September 15. Meanwhile, the traditional torch relay ceremony was performed today in India. FIDE Interim President GM Vishy Anand and Mr. Nitin Narang, President of the All India Chess Federation, handed the torch with the Olympic flame over to GM Javokhir Sindarov, who will travel with it to the Samarkand Olympiad. Official website: https://chessolympiad2026.fide.com/ Written by Michael Rahal Photos: Stev Bonhage, Mark Livshitz and Lennart Ootes
GCL: Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers to face Ganges Grandmasters in Season 4 title clash
Both the teams advanced to the final despite losing their final league games after CheQ Mumba Masters defeated FYERS American Gambits 11-6 Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers and Ganges Grandmasters will face each other in the Season 4 finale of the Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE, in Bengaluru. Despite both the teams losing their final day matches they still advanced to the title clash as the result in the third match went their way. Both Alpine APL Pipers and Ganges Grandmasters went into the final round-robin matches with 18 match points and a win against teams who were at the bottom of the standings would have been enough for them to secure the spots in the final. However, two-time champions Triveni Continental Kings threw the race to the final wide open as they became the first team in the Season 4 to win both the matches against the Pipers, winning 11-6 in the first match of the day. Alpine APL Pipers vs. Triveni Continental Kings: 6-11 Alpine APL Pipers looked on the right course in the first few minutes of the match before Aravindh Chithambaram began tightening the noose around Vidit Gujrathi’s white king. Despite the time scramble in the end game, Aravindh managed to convert his advantage and won the game in 36 moves. But it was Alireza Firouzja who ultimately put the brakes on Pipers march as the Frenchman forced world number one Magnus Carlsen to resign after 49 moves. This was Carlsen’s first loss in the competition and first win for Firouzja, keeping alive his team’s hopes of at least making it to third place play-off. Volodar Murzin’s win over Pranav V on the prodigy board meant that Pipers at least scored six points and kept their chances of making it to the final alive. “It was a good game and after a sharp opening I found some good moves and when we went through time trouble, I managed to put pressure and win the game,” said Firouzja. PBG Alaskan Knights vs. Ganges Grandmasters: 9-7 The first match result meant that Ganges Grandmasters needed to score just one game point against PBG Alaskan Knights with black pieces to advance to the final on better game point score. This target was reached after Ian Nepomniachtchi drew against Viswanathan Anand on the icon board and Stavroula Tsolakidou defeated Nino Batsiashvili to put the Grandmasters ahead. But Player of the Match Abhimanyu Mishra got the better of Luke Leon Mendonca on the Prodigy board and Grandmasters’ Leinier Dominguez Perez lost on time in a time scramble when he knocked off a few pieces while trying to play fast. CheQ Mumba Masters vs. Fyers American Gambits: 11-6 FYERS American Gambits then had to beat CheQ Mumba Masters and also score a minimum of nine points to advance to the final, edging out the Pipers. Led by Candidates 2026 winner Javokhir Sindarov on the icon board, the Gambits looked on course despite Marc’andria Maurizzi losing after a blunder against Bardiya Daneshvar on the prodigy board and Carissa Yip beating Sara Khadem. Sindarov had a clearly winning position against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Nihal Sarin was also looking good to beat M. Pranesh. Two possible wins with black pieces could have seen their team through. But Nihal committed an error under pressure and lost on time, thereby reducing Sindarov’s victory merely to a consolation win as they lost the match 11-6. The two teams will now once again face-off on Sunday in the third-place match. Standings after preliminary stage Schedule for Sunday, September 13: 3rd Place Battle: 3.30 PM: FYERS American Gambits vs. CheQ Mumba Masters FINALS: 6.30 PM: Alpine APL Pipers vs. Ganges Grandmasters About the Global Chess League The Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, is the world’s first and largest official franchise league of its kind. The league brings together leading chess players from across the globe in a unique joint team format, with six players representing each franchise across Icons, Superstar Men, Superstar Women, and Prodigies. Men and women compete together on the same team, with every board carrying equal value towards the team’s result. GCL has previously staged seasons in Dubai, London, and Mumbai and returns to India for Season 4 in Bengaluru. GCL official website: https://globalchessleague.com/
Eight teams on perfect score as inclusion and lifelong love for chess take center stage in Samarkand
Round 2 of the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities brought another day of competitive chess to Samarkand, with eight teams maintaining perfect records and setting up four direct clashes between the leaders in Round 3. Beyond the results, the day once again highlighted the stories behind the players: childhood games with parents, lifelong friendships built through chess, the opportunity to represent one’s country, and the importance of bringing players with different disabilities together on the same stage. Ceremonial first move opens Round 2 Round 2 began with the ceremonial first move by Thomas Luether, Chairperson of the FIDE Commission for Players with Disabilities and Chairperson of the Appeals Committee of the FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities, and Khusen Mirzaevich Tukhtaev, Deputy Governor of Samarkand Region for Youth Policy, Social Development, and Spiritual and Educational Affairs. Eight teams on a perfect four match points Several of the leading teams produced convincing victories in Round 2. Cuba defeated Serbia 3–1, while Israel overcame Ukraine by the same score. IBCA recorded a commanding 3½–½ victory over Switzerland, and Germany beat Kazakhstan 3–1. The Philippines continued their strong start with a 3–1 win over Hungary, while the Czech Republic defeated Kyrgyzstan 3–1. India scored one of the biggest victories among the leaders, beating Uzbekistan 3 by 3½–½, while Argentina defeated Spain 3–1. After two rounds, the Philippines, Cuba, Israel, Argentina, Czech Republic, IBCA, India and Germany lead the tournament with a perfect four match points each. Leaders collide in Round 3 The third round promises to be particularly important, with all eight leaders facing each other across the top four boards. On Board 1, the Philippines will take on Cuba, with both teams having collected 6½ game points from their opening two matches. Israel, also on 6½ game points, is pitted against Argentina on Board 2. On Board 3, the Czech Republic will face IBCA, while India and Germany complete the clashes between the leaders on Board 4. The top four Round 3 pairings are: Philippines – CubaIsrael – ArgentinaCzech Republic – IBCAIndia – Germany With all eight teams entering Round 3 on four match points, the direct encounters will begin to separate the field at the top of the standings. “When I play chess, I forget everything else” While the competition intensified, the players continued to share the personal stories that brought them to Samarkand. For Lila Mohamed Amin of Egypt, chess has been part of her life almost from the beginning. She started playing at just four years old after being introduced to the game by her father. “My father taught me. He used to play chess with us when we were young, and when he realised that we were good at it, he found a coach to train us,” Amin explained. Chess remained a family affair. Her brother also plays and has since become a coach. “So we are really a chess family,” she said. Amin believes chess has also influenced the way she approaches challenges beyond the board, helping her solve problems and think differently. “I have a problem with my leg, but it doesn’t affect my chess. When I play a game of chess, I forget about everything else.” Her team enjoyed a perfect afternoon on the boards as Egypt defeated Kenya 4–0. Amin is participating in the Olympiad for the second time, but Samarkand offers a new experience. With the main Chess Olympiad beginning in the same city in the coming days, she is particularly excited about having some of the world’s leading players nearby. “I’m very excited to see so many top chess players here. It’s my first time experiencing the main Chess Olympiad alongside our event, so I’m really excited.” Argentina continue their strong start For Santiago Jose Curia, Day 2 brought both a 3–1 victory over Spain and another successful step in Argentina’s perfect start to the competition. “I’m very happy to be here. Representing Argentina is very important to me and to our whole team,” Curia said. Having previously participated in the Olympiad in Astana, he is discovering Uzbekistan for the first time and described Samarkand as a beautiful and historic city. His own chess journey also began with his father. “I learned to play chess from my dad. He taught me how to move the pieces, and then I joined my first chess club, Jaque Mate.” He later moved to Club Argentino, where playing with friends and competing in tournaments helped him develop further. But over the years, chess became far more than simply a hobby. “Chess is my hobby, but it is also a very big part of my life. I have been playing since I was a child, and many of the decisions I’ve made in my life have been connected to chess.” Argentina’s two victories have earned them four match points and a place among the eight leaders. Their next test will come immediately: Israel await them on Board 2 in Round 3. “That is what inclusion is about” Cristian Gonzalez Astete of Chile also had reason to celebrate after his team defeated Panama 3–1. For Gonzalez Astete, however, the importance of the Olympiad extends far beyond results. “One of the most beautiful things here is that we have people with different kinds of disabilities competing together – players with physical disabilities, players who cannot see and players who cannot hear,” he said. “We are all here together, competing in the same tournament. It’s a beautiful opportunity to meet people and share our experiences. That is what inclusion is about.” He also welcomed the decision to stage the Olympiad for People with Disabilities in the same host city and period as the main Chess Olympiad. “For us, it is particularly meaningful that both Olympiads are being brought together in the same place. It creates a feeling of equality, and that is very important.” “You never forget your first love” Gonzalez Astete‘s sporting story stretches beyond the chessboard. He is also a competitive table tennis
Chess for refugee children: A winning move
As champions gather at the World Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan an inspirational initiative is changing the lives of traumatised youngsters Chess might seem an unlikely game-changer to transform the lives of refugee children. But that’s exactly what is causing a buzz for youngsters living in the harshest conditions across Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the largest refugee camp in the world. And the move is backed by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Himalayan Chess Academy, and a national women’s champion. In camp an excited group of children gather around a one US dollar chess set, eyes fixed in anticipation of a girl with her finger resting on the small white piece in contemplation of her next move. Check! Some gasp; some giggle. But the focus, the tension, and the sense of engagement are tangible. It’s a scene repeated on a dozen chess boards under the makeshift roofing of a refugee community space. And it’s changing lives. Magnus Wolfe-Murray smiles as he watches. The charismatic Scot, a seasoned aid worker, has brought the game into the lives of the Rohingya communities with his grass roots charity Movement in Refuge. It’s not all about chess. It’s about play, movement, activity and engagement, including sports like roundnet and football. He’s just beginning. Yet introducing the ‘Chess for Protection Programme’ in August in partnership with FIDE has been a winning move. Wolfe-Murray said: “The impact of introducing chess to youngsters in the camp has been amazing. With a few chess sets and some coaching! The game is a great focus. The engagement and genuine excitement we have been able to achieve has been brilliant. It brings with it a confidence and sense of empowerment among the children – we see a real difference. A sense of hope. And lots of smiles. “Now we’re hoping we can raise funds to extend our activities to include many more of the thousands of children across the camps, working with and training additional coaches from within the refugee community,” he adds. Beside him stands Monalisha Khamboo, the first women’s chess champion of Nepal, who received the distinction of the Woman Candidate Master title from FIDE in 2015. The game transformed her own life from a shy girl in a poor village in Eastern Nepal, hindered by a serious stammer, teased by peers and teachers alike. Chess changed her trajectory completely; she earned a sport scholarship through chess to gain a place at a high school in Kathmandu, and the rest is history. Now she spends her time championing the game across international borders. She’s known Wolfe-Murray from his aid work in Nepal and was happy to help bring the game to refugee children and provide professional coaching. Ms Khamboo commented: “This project is close to my heart. Chess can be an agent of change for every individual, which is what happened to me. From my own personal experience chess can help you build self-esteem; the resilience that comes in the healing journey. Chess is a strong social tool for promoting and working in the Rohingya camps. “We now have thirty chess trainers, so we are on the right path. We can make a better world for living through the game of chess. I am so grateful to FIDE for this opportunity to come and serve here and work with the Rohingya people.” The idea is to bring chess and its benefits to more refugee youngsters in Cox’s Bazar, where there are an estimated 540,000 children according to Government of Bangladesh and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) numbers. That’s why Wolfe-Murray is attending the World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, organised by FIDE from 15 to 27 September, 2026, set to draw the world’s chess elite to battle it out in competition. Movement in Refuge hopes to raise additional funding from across the chess community and beyond to reach thousands of youngsters across the 33 camps that make up Cox’s Bazar. And spread the age-old magic of chess. Through partnership, through business, civil society, government… and chess lovers the world over. For more details and/or an interview with Magnus Wolfe-Murray, please contact Andrew Goss on +44 7914 173116; or mail at andy.goss@hotmail.co.uk About Movement in Refuge Movement in Refuge is a grassroots charity established to bring play, movement, and activity to the Rohingya children of Cox’s Bazar, working directly with the refugee community. MiR is a registered charity in Scotland as well as in the USA as a 501.c.3 non-profit organisation. Website: https://www.movementinrefuge.org/ The Programme: The Chess Protection Programme in partnership with FIDE and the Himalayan Chess Academy took place in Kutupalong Refugee Camp during August. It was delivered by FIDE chess instructor and women’s champion MonalishaKhamboo through MiR and local partner The Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP/Bangladesh). Thirty chess players took part in coaching sessions and the programme concluded with a girls and boys tournament of 64 refugees aged 10 to 22 years. Funding target: Movement in Refuge hopes to raise USD $100,000 to help bring chess to up to 5,000 more refugee youngsters over the next two years. Refugee numbers: 1,3 million Rohingya are living in the 33 camps that make up Cox’s Bazar, the largest refugee camp in the world. Of those more than 540,000 are children according to the Government of Bangladesh and the UNHCR (as of March, 2025).
GCL 2026, Day 7: Ganges Grandmasters crush CheQ Mumba Masters; Alpine APL Pipers defeat FYERS American Gambits to close in on final berth
Ganges Grandmasters and the Pipers will advance to the final if they win their last round robin match on Saturday Ganges Grandmasters and defending champions Alpine APL Pipers registered convincing victories on the penultimate day of the preliminary stage of the Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE, in Bengaluru on Friday. Both teams need to just win their respective final round matches to secure their spots in the Season 4 title clash. The Pipers defeated the Gambits 9-7 while the Grandmasters thrashed the Mumba Masters 16-1 to post the biggest win of the tournament. In the opening match of the day, Triveni Continental Kings defeated PBG Alaskan Knights 13-7. Both Ganges Grandmasters and Alpine APL Pipers now have 18 match points but the former’s dominant win means that they took the top spot in the overall standings due to better game score. FYERS American Gambits are in third place with 15 match points and would need one of the top two leaders to lose in the final round, while they will have to beat CheQ Mumba Masters by a convincing margin. The Gambits found themselves in this position, as they could not find a way to stop the Pipers in the second match of the day. Let’s take a closer look at today’s matches: PBG Alaskan Knights vs Triveni Continental Kings: 7-13 In the match between two bottom-placed teams, two-time champions Triveni Continental Kings proved too strong for the PBG Alaskan Knights. On the Superstar women boards, Zhu Jiner notched up her first victory of the tournament, beating Kateryna Lagno in 44 moves; Alexandra Kosteniuk pounced on an error from Nino Batsiashvili to score another four points, while Pranav Venkatesh forced Abhimanyu Mishra’s resignation on the Prodigy board. With the Continental Kings picking 12 points for three victories with black pieces, Arjun Erigaisi’s win over Wei Yi and 15-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus beating Aravindh Chithambaram did not really help the Alaskan Knights chances of making it to the final. Alpine APL Pipers vs. Fyers American Gambits: 9-7 Pipers and American Gambits were tied on match points and game points going into the round, and winning the match was equally important for both teams. World no. 1 Magnus Carlsen ended Candidates 2026 winner Javokhir Sindarov’s three-game winning streak, and Vidit Gujrathi defeated Daniil Dubov in a rook-knight endgame to help defending champions Alpine APL Pipers beat FYERS American Gambits 9-7 in the clash of the top two teams. Carlsen, who won the Player of the Match award, was in total control throughout against Sindarov on the icon board and forced the Uzbek player to resign after 36 moves. “First of all, I think this was a great match with a very good team performance. We are thrilled to get the win. In my game, I was doing pretty well early on but he (Sindarov) put up a big fight, but I was able to wriggle out and find the win,” said Carlsen, who said Vidit deserved the trophy more than him and then handed the trophy to the Indian GM. The game between Vidit and Dubov on the Superstar men board went into a time scramble, but the Indian GM kept his cool as he made the most of his opportunities in an equal endgame to claim victory after a marathon 96-move battle and help Pipers complete a double over the Gambits. “It was a very close match, and when I saw the board, we were not in a clear position to win. I felt that I played a good game, and it was very good to win for the team,” said Vidit. Women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh’s struggles in her debut GCL continued as she ran out of time on move 34 against Bibisara Assaubayeva for the only loss for her team on Friday. Ganges Grandmasters vs. CheQ Mumba Masters: 16-1 Ganges Grandmasters’ icon player Ian Nepomniachtchi, Superstar men Levon Aronian and Leinier Dominguez Perez, Superstar women Stavroula Tsolakidou and prodigy Leon Luke Mendonca made the most of the opportunity of playing white as they recorded convincing wins over their respective opponents. Only Polina Shuvalova drew her game against Harika Dronavalli to hand one point to the Mumba Masters. Standings after Day 7 Schedule for Saturday, September 12: 5.00 PM: Triveni Continental Kings vs. Alpine APL Pipers6.30 PM: PBG Alaskan Knights vs. Ganges Grandmasters8.00 PM: FYERS American Gambits vs. CheQ Mumba Masters About the Global Chess League The Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, is the world’s first and largest official franchise league of its kind. The league brings together leading chess players from across the globe in a unique joint team format, with six players representing each franchise across Icons, Superstar Men, Superstar Women, and Prodigies. Men and women compete together on the same team, with every board carrying equal value towards the team’s result. GCL has previously staged seasons in Dubai, London, and Mumbai and returns to India for Season 4 in Bengaluru. GCL official website: https://globalchessleague.com/
A universal language: Chess, inclusion and friendship take center stage in Samarkand
The first moves have been played at the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities, with 41 teams beginning their campaigns in Samarkand. Following Thursday’s opening ceremony, Round 1 brought the focus to the chessboards. Most of the favourites started confidently, but the opening day also produced some early surprises. Beyond the results, conversations with players from around the world highlighted what lies at the heart of the event: inclusion, equality, friendship and a shared love of chess. The ceremonial first move was made by Akaki Iashvili, FIDE Special Tasks Director and FIDE Technical Delegate of the Olympiad for People with Disabilities, and Komil Sindarov, Vice President of the Uzbekistan Chess Federation, on Board 1 of the Poland – Mongolia match. The encounter proved to be one of the closest of the opening round. Poland won on the top two boards, while Mongolia struck back on Boards 3 and 4 to secure a 2–2 draw. Favourites start strongly, but surprises come early Most of the higher-rated teams successfully navigated their opening matches. Cuba defeated IPCA 3½–½, Israel overcame Bangladesh by the same score, while Germany, USA, Ukraine and Hungary all began with perfect 4–0 victories. The Philippines made an impressive start with a 3½–½ victory over Brazil. Argentina defeated Egypt 3–1, the Czech Republic beat Belarus 3–1, India overcame Uzbekistan 2 by the same score, Serbia defeated Vietnam 3–1, Switzerland beat Zimbabwe 3–1, Kazakhstan defeated ICCD 3–1, and Spain recorded a 3½–½ victory over China. Uzbekistan 1 gave the home supporters plenty to celebrate with a 4–0 victory against Uganda. But not everything went according to rating. One of the biggest surprises came from Kyrgyzstan, who defeated the considerably higher-rated Turkmenistan team 3–1. After draws on the first two boards, Toktobek Bolotov and Gulzat Kasymbaeva delivered victories on Boards 3 and 4 to seal the match. There was another home success for Uzbekistan 3, who defeated higher-rated Venezuela 2½–1½. Ali Irgashev drew on the top board, while Abdurahmon Azimjonov and Abbas Eshmuratov scored the two victories for the Uzbek team. Croatia and Türkiye also shared the points in a 2–2 draw. “This can become a tradition” For Komil Sindarov, Vice President of the Uzbekistan Chess Federation, bringing the Olympiad for People with Disabilities together with the main Chess Olympiad in the same host city represents something bigger than the competition itself. “This is the first time here in Uzbekistan that the Olympiad for People with Disabilities and the Olympiad are being held at the same time. Of course, this also brings certain organizational challenges. But I believe that we must protect the rights of people with disabilities and respect them,” he said (translated from Uzbek). “We believe that the foundation being laid here in Uzbekistan today will help make it possible for the Olympiad for People with Disabilities and the Olympiad to be held at the same time in the future. I believe that this tradition will continue” (translated from Uzbek). Sindarov said that seeing the joy of participants who had travelled to Samarkand from around the world had made a particular impression on him. “When I see the happiness on their faces, I feel very happy myself. People with disabilities, who may sometimes feel that some of their opportunities are limited, can today stand equally alongside everyone else, alongside other chess players, and participate in an Olympiad like this.” (translated from Uzbek). He also reflected on the rapid development of chess in Uzbekistan, pointing to improved coaching opportunities, scholarships, training camps and the country’s growing international tournament calendar. “Whereas we once had only one or two tournaments, today we have 24 international tournaments a year. We are creating all the necessary conditions for our chess players to compete and improve their level.” (translated from Uzbek). A perfect start for the hosts Uzbekistan 1 began its campaign with a clean sweep against Uganda, winning 4–0. On the top board, Axadxon Kimsanboyev defeated Enock Seguya with the black pieces. After the game, Kimsanboyev explained that after the queens were exchanged, he felt he had obtained a favourable endgame and eventually converted his advantage. “This game was not easy for me, but I’m expecting very hard games against the top players,” he said. Having participated in every edition of the Olympiad, Kimsanboyev has watched the competition grow first-hand. “The first Olympiad was in Belgrade in 2023, and the second Olympiad was in 2025. At the first Olympiad, I took a silver medal on Board 4. Every Olympiad, the number of participants is getting bigger and bigger. I hope that in the next Olympiad even more teams will participate, and we will meet more friends at the chessboard.” His own chess journey began at the age of ten, when his grandfather taught him the game. International competition followed from 2021, and chess gradually became one of the defining parts of his life. “Chess is one of the most important things in my life. Chess has helped me find more friends, win medals, participate in more competitions, and travel to more countries.” Chess as inclusion and equality For Gweshe Shantel of Zimbabwe, the opening round brought a difficult game but also the beginning of another important international experience. “The first game was a bit tough for me, but I’m hoping that for the next games I’m going to make it,” she said. Shantel has competed in university chess tournaments and recently took part in the Minerva tournament in Harare as part of her preparation for Samarkand. She also spoke about how participating internationally has changed her ambitions as a player. “The first time when I came, I didn’t have any rating, and now I have a rating that needs to be maintained. I also want to continue participating in other tournaments, even women’s tournaments, national tournaments and international tournaments.” Her relationship with chess began much earlier, at the age of six, through her father. “My dad was a chess player. He used to always play chess every day, so I became interested
FIDE World U7-U17 Rapid and Blitz Championships 2026 Egypt: Registration now open
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Egyptian Chess Federation are pleased to announce the 2026 FIDE World U7-U17 Rapid and Blitz Championships. The event will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from December 8 (arrival) to December 15 (departure), 2026. The participants will compete across six age categories: Under 7, Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15, and Under 17, with separate Open and Girls sections. Players who secured first place in the previous edition of the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Cadets & Youth Championships (U9–U17 age groups) are granted the personal right to participate in the corresponding (or higher) age category, provided they meet the age requirement as of January 1, 2026. FIDE Member Federations may register any number of players and accompanying officials/persons. The registration deadline is November 1, 2026. Invitation, regulations, schedule (PDF) Registration details Registration form: https://forms.gle/sJW3H1QfS5FZ3kqE8 Email: youthrapidblitz@fide.com Official website: https://youthrapidblitz2026.fide.com
GCL 2026, Day 6: One game point separates Alpine APL Pipers, FYERS American Gambits and Ganges Grandmasters at the top
Alpine APL Pipers beat PBG Alaskan Knights 11-6 but lost to Ganges Grandmasters 4-12; CheQ Mumba Masters also stay in the hunt with a 14-5 win over Triveni Continental Kings; American Gambits beat the Grandmasters 13-5. The group stage of the fourth season of the Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE in Bengaluru, is heading to a nail-biting finale. With only two days left to play at the preliminary stage, just one game point separates the top three teams. Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, FYERS American Gambits, and Ganges Grandmasters now have 15 Match Points each after eight rounds. The first two are slightly ahead with 73 Game Points, while the Grandmasters sit on 72. The Pipers and the Grandmasters had a chance to take the sole lead on Thursday, as they were scheduled to play two matches each. Ganges Grandmasters began the day with a convincing 12-4 win over the Alpine APL Pipers while playing with the Black pieces, but went down 13-5 in their final match of the day against the American Gambits. The Pipers went on to beat the PBG Alaskan Knights 11-6, and the CheQ Mumba Masters kept their chances of making it to the final alive with a 14-5 win over the Triveni Continental Kings. They now have 12 Match Points and 73 Game Points to show for their efforts. Let’s take a closer look at today’s matches: Alpine APL Pipers vs. Ganges Grandmasters: 4-12 The day began with the Ganges Grandmasters beating the Pipers without dropping a single game. Stavroula Tsolakidou started the Grandmasters’ march by inflicting a second loss of the tournament on Humpy Koneru. On the Superstar Men’s board, two-time World Cup winner Levon Aronian turned the tables on Anish Giri to win in 61 moves. “I got lucky, very lucky. But I always believed that I could find the best moves despite playing very badly at the start. Maybe not losing the game was what I deserved, but winning, of course, is a huge stroke of luck,” said Aronian, who was also named Player of the Match. With all other games drawn, the Ganges Grandmasters comfortably sealed the match. Triveni Continental Kings vs. CheQ Mumba Masters: 5-14In the day’s second match, the CheQ Mumba Masters kept their hopes of reaching the final alive with a thumping win over the Triveni Continental Kings. Playing with the Black pieces, the Mumba Masters won three out of six games, with Alexandra Kosteniuk scoring the only victory for the Continental Kings. On the Icon board, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave outplayed Alireza Firouzja, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov defeated Aravindh Chithambaram on the Superstar Men’s board. With Bardiya Daneshvar also winning on the Prodigy board, the Mumba Masters took their Game Points tally to 73 from eight matches, securing their fourth win. Alpine APL Pipers vs. PBG Alaskan Knights: 11-6Magnus Carlsen set the tone in the match, prevailing over Viswanathan Anand in a complicated battle on the Icon board, while Humpy Koneru took revenge for her earlier loss to Nino Batsiashvili, extending the Pipers’ lead. Volodar Murzin then defeated Abhimanyu Mishra on the Prodigy board in a time scramble to put the result beyond doubt. Only 15-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus managed to score four points for a win with Black for the Alaskan Knights, as Vidit Gujrathi ran out of time on the Superstar Men’s board. FYERS American Gambits vs. Ganges Grandmasters: 13-5Aronian made it a double when he defeated Nihal Sarin of FYERS American Gambits in the last match of the day, but his team suffered a crushing 13-5 defeat. On the Icon board, Candidates 2026 winner Javokhir Sindarov won over Ian Nepomniachtchi, Daniil Dubov outplayed Leinier Dominguez Perez, Bibisara Assaubayeva handed Polina Shuvalova her first loss of the competition, and Marc’Andria Maurizzi claimed another three points after Luke Leon Mendonca ran out of time on the Prodigy board. Standings after Day 6 Schedule for Friday, September 11: 5.00 PM: Triveni Continental Kings vs PBG Alaskan Knights6.30 PM: Alpine APL Pipers vs FYERS American Gambits8.00 PM: Ganges Grandmasters vs CheQ Mumba Masters About the Global Chess League The Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, is the world’s first and largest official franchise league of its kind. The league brings together leading chess players from across the globe in a unique joint team format, with six players representing each franchise across Icons, Superstar Men, Superstar Women and Prodigies. Men and women compete together on the same team, with every board carrying equal value towards the team’s result. GCL has previously staged seasons in Dubai, London, and Mumbai and returns to India for Season 4 in Bengaluru. GCL official website: https://globalchessleague.com/
3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities opens in Samarkand
Samarkand, Uzbekistan – September 10, 2026 Chess has a unique ability to dissolve boundaries, bringing people together across countries, cultures and different life circumstances. That spirit was at the heart of the opening of the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities, which welcomed a record 41 teams to Samarkand. The third edition marks an important milestone in the history of the competition. For the first time, the FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities is being held alongside the main FIDE Chess Olympiad, bringing the two events together in the same host city and during the same period. The Olympiad for People with Disabilities gets underway first, with Round 1 on September 11, while the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad begins its competitive programme five days later, with Round 1 on September 16. The opening ceremony took place at the Hilton Hotel in Samarkand, bringing together players, officials and guests ahead of seven days of competition. “Power, passion and will” Welcoming the participants, Adkham Ikramov, Minister of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, emphasized Uzbekistan’s commitment to chess and thanked FIDE for the trust placed in the country to host such an important event. He highlighted the support of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as the work of the government, the Chess Federation of Uzbekistan and the Samarkand authorities in preparing the competition. Speaking both as Minister of Sports and as a medical doctor, Ikramov said that it was especially meaningful for him that this major gathering of the chess world begins with the Olympiad for People with Disabilities. Addressing the players, he said: “For me, as a medical doctor and as a Minister of Sports, it is very important that we are starting with the Paralympic chess. You, representing 36 countries, 41 teams and around 200 chess players, are showing to the entire world the power, the passion, and will. I am very, very thankful to all of you that you trust in us and came here, and I wish all success to all of you.” His words captured one of the central messages of the evening: while chess dissolves boundaries across the board, it is the players themselves who demonstrate the power and determination behind every move. “A celebration of determination” Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board, placed the opening in a broader historical context, connecting Samarkand’s ancient chess heritage with the rapid development of chess in modern Uzbekistan. She recalled chess pieces carved from ivory and discovered by archaeologists in the region, dating back more than a thousand years – a symbolic link between the game’s deep roots here and the chess events Samarkand is welcoming today. “More than 1,000 years ago, some people here were sitting and carved some chess pieces out of ivory, and seven of those were found by archaeologists. And this is, I guess, the seed that was embedded back there, taken by smart people, now nurtured by smart and capable governments, and creating the future of chess here in Samarkand and in Uzbekistan.” Reizniece noted the particular significance of Uzbekistan opening its doors to the participants of the Olympiad for People with Disabilities, the main Chess Olympiad and the FIDE Congress during the same major gathering. For her, however, the occasion represented something beyond chess itself: “I would say even more: a celebration of determination. Sometimes people are mistaken when they think what determination is about. They think it’s about being strong all the time, perfect, and never making mistakes. For me, it’s something more. I think it’s the ability to make the next move, to get up and flourish at the very difficult and the most difficult times again and again and again.” She drew a parallel between that determination and the nature of chess itself. “Chess is a very honest game. It doesn’t suggest that it’s going to be easy. It gives you the position as it is, and you have to make the next move.” She concluded with FIDE’s motto, Gens una sumus – “We are one family”, expressing the hope that this spirit would define the coming weeks in Samarkand. Poland draws White The sporting element of the evening came with the drawing of lots for the colors, conducted by Chief Arbiter Nebojsa Baralic. Akaki Iashvili, FIDE Special Tasks Director and FIDE Technical Delegate of the Olympiad for People with Disabilities, and Komil Sindarov, Vice President of the Uzbekistan Chess Federation, took part in the draw for top-seeded Poland. The result gave Poland White on the first board in Round 1. The first moves await With the official opening complete and the colors decided, attention now turns to the chessboards. The 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities will be played as a seven-round Swiss team competition. The teams are composed of players with hearing impairments, physical disabilities and visual impairments, with at least one player of each gender required in the lineup for every round. Round 1 begins on September 11 at 15:00 local time. The competition continues with one round per day, with the seventh and final round scheduled for 11:00 on September 17. Five days after the first moves of the Olympiad for People with Disabilities, the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad will begin on September 16, bringing the two Olympiads together in Samarkand. For the coming days, the chessboards will become a shared space where differences fade and the next move is what matters. Chess dissolves boundaries – and the players gathered in Samarkand are ready to show the power, passion and will to move beyond them. You can find pairings of the Round 1 on Chess-results. Follow the games live. Written by Angelika Valkova Photos: Mark Livshitz FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities official website: https://dis-olympiad2026.fide.com/
Salesforce’s Agentforce 360 powers the future of chess with FIDE
Salesforce becomes the Title Sponsor and Technological partner of FIDE. Partnership brings the Agentforce 360 portfolio, including Slack, to the world’s largest chess events and forums, powering real-time player rankings and AI-driven fan experiences for over 800 million global fans. SAN FRANCISCO and LAUSANNE – September 10, 2026 – Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the #1 AI CRM, today announced a landmark multi-year partnership with the International Chess Federation (FIDE), becoming the Title Sponsor of the FIDE World Championship Matches 2026-28 and the official AI partner of the FIDE World Chess Championship and FIDE Rankings. The collaboration will utilize the full power of Agentforce 360 – the complete portfolio of Salesforce AI solutions that power the Agentic Enterprise – to unify every layer of its operations, player rankings, and fan connections onto a single platform. This includes leveraging Slack to further connect FIDE’s global teams and streamline workflows. A Partnership Built for the Championship The partnership between FIDE and Salesforce covers the 2026 and 2028 World Championship Matches, the 2027 Women’s Match, and the world rankings. The official world championship matches and rankings will be presented as the Salesforce FIDE World Chess Championships and Salesforce FIDE Rankings. A new standard for chess: intelligence meets innovation FIDE has been the governing body of chess since 1924, today overseeing 204 national member federations, 1.5 million rated players, and tens of thousands of rated events per year across 195 countries. With Agentforce 360, FIDE will run its entire operation on a single, intelligent platform, unlocking new ways to connect with players, federations, and fans around the world. Fans will experience this transformation first-hand through the Chess Concierge Agent, powered by Agentforce 360, that answers questions on ratings, rules, and live tournament status for 1.2 million monthly visitors in any language. Internally, Agentforce 360 will help FIDE more efficiently run its operations. This includes powering Move of the Day: a workflow that analyzes moves from elite competition and surfaces them to the FIDE expert panel via Slack for final selection. Slack will also connect FIDE’s federations and commissions worldwide, giving officers behind-the-scenes visibility into ratings and operations. Core to FIDE’s authority is its rating system, the universally recognized measure of every chess player’s skill that is used to track standings, history, and predictive analysis. FIDE’s ELO Player Rating Agent will offer a conversational lookup of any FIDE player, including historic trends, current standings, insights into results, and predictions. It also automates the rating data pipelines across 204 federations – replacing manual batch processes with near real-time ratings. Underpinning this is Data 360, which will unify FIDE’s player database of active online chess players and 60,000+ annual event streams to offer consolidated real-time fan and player profiles. Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE, said: “This is truly a landmark agreement. This partnership equips FIDE with enterprise-grade CRM and fan engagement tools from the world’s leading company to transform how we manage relationships with federations, players and audiences. Title sponsorship of the 2026 and 2028 Matches, along with the Women’s Match in 2027, demonstrates the partnership and commitment between FIDE and Salesforce.” Viswanathan Anand, FIDE Interim President, said: “This agreement places chess at the heart of technological innovation. Salesforce’s title sponsorship of the open and women’s cycles, plus our ranking system, shows genuine commitment. This will inspire a new generation and give our premier events the stage they deserve.” “Chess is one of the world’s most beloved games, cherished by hundreds of millions of people across every culture and corner of the globe,” said Patrick Stokes, President, Applications and Marketing, Salesforce. “We’re truly honored to partner with FIDE and bring the power of the Agentic Enterprise to a sport with such rich history and passionate fans. From the Salesforce FIDE World Chess Championships to the Salesforce FIDE Rankings, we want to help FIDE connect with its players and audiences in ways that feel personal, seamless, and worthy of the game they love.” About Salesforce Salesforce helps organizations of any size become Agentic Enterprises — integrating humans, agents, apps, and data on a trusted, unified platform to unlock unprecedented growth and innovation. Visit www.salesforce.com for more information. Media Contacts: Salesforce: pr@salesforce.com