The prestigious FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 chess tournament kicks off this Thursday at the Silk Road EXPO in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, featuring 172 elite players from around the world.
With 116 participants in the Open category and 56 in the Women’s section, the stakes are high—top two finishers from each category will earn coveted spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the gateway to the World Chess Championship.
India’s R Praggnanandhaa enters as the highest-rated player in the Open section, followed closely by reigning world champion D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi. In the Women’s category, China’s Tan Zhongyi, Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk, and Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva headline the top seeds.
The tournament will span 11 rounds from September 4 to 15, with matches starting daily at 3:30 p.m. IST, except for the final round at 2:30 p.m. The format follows the Swiss system, ensuring competitive pairings based on performance rather than elimination.
This year’s prize pool has seen a significant boost: the Open category will award $625,000 (up from $460,000), while the Women’s prize fund has jumped to $230,000 from $140,000. Defending champions Vidit Gujrathi and Vaishali Rameshbabu will not return, paving the way for new contenders to rise.
Live coverage will be available on the official FIDE YouTube channel, bringing the excitement of world-class chess to fans globally.
