Samarkand Hosts Record-Breaking Chess Olympiad

Samarkand is set to host the Chess Olympiad from September 16 to 27, featuring a record 400 teams, with 208 in the Open section and 192 in the Women’s event. This surpasses the previous record of 380 teams established in Budapest in 2024.

Participants, including players, arbiters, coaches, and captains, have begun arriving, with many traveling on the fast Uzbekistan train. The event will showcase competitive chess while allowing federations at various development stages to participate together.

India enters as the defending champion in the Open category, while Uzbekistan, the surprise winners in 2022, will also be a strong contender. The Women’s Olympiad will feature India defending their title against emerging federations. Additionally, the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities is currently ongoing, and a FIDE Congress will discuss the future of chess.