The FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 begins in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 3 to 15. For two weeks, the Silk Road city will host many of the best chess players in the world. With qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament on the line, this event is one of the most important of the year.
High Stakes and Big Rewards
Since its start in 2019, the Grand Swiss has become the strongest Swiss-system classical chess tournament. It features 11 rounds, where elite players face off in a battle of nerves and preparation.
The prize pool totals $855,000. Of that, $625,000 is for the Open section and $230,000 for the Women’s Grand Swiss. The biggest prize, however, is qualification. The top two finishers in both the Open and Women’s tournaments will advance to the Candidates Tournament 2026, which decides the next challenger for the World Championship.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich praised Uzbekistan as a strong chess nation and said he looks forward to a “clash of generations” in Samarkand.
History of Surprises
The Grand Swiss is known for its unpredictability. In 2019, Wang Hao shocked the field by winning ahead of Fabiano Caruana. In 2021, Alireza Firouzja made his big breakthrough in Riga, while Lei Tingjie won the first Women’s Grand Swiss. In 2023, Indian stars took over. Vidit Santosh Gujrathi won the Open, while Vaishali Rameshbabu triumphed in the Women’s event. These results prove that ratings alone do not decide the outcome.
Open Section: Big Names and Rising Stars
The 2025 Open will feature 116 players, including 18 Super-GMs rated above 2700 and 74 rated between 2600–2699. Leading the field is Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, the FIDE Circuit 2025 leader and world number four. The 20-year-old recently finished runner-up at the Sinquefield Cup and continues to rise.
World Champion Gukesh D is another top favorite. At 19, he has already broken records, becoming the youngest-ever World Champion and the first Indian to cross 2750 Elo. His wins over Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura in Norway Chess underline his strength.
Other contenders include Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Firouzja, Vincent Keymer, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, and Hans Niemann. With such depth, every round will bring drama.
Women’s Grand Swiss: A Battle for Candidates Spots
The Women’s tournament has 56 players. Former World Champion Tan Zhongyi is the top seed, still in strong form after challenging for the title this year. Lei Tingjie, winner of the 2021 edition, is another favorite, having reached the semifinals of the FIDE Women’s World Cup earlier this year.
Anna Muzychuk is also in the hunt. After missing out on Candidates qualification via the Women’s Grand Prix, she will aim to secure one of the two precious spots in Samarkand. Other top names include Koneru Humpy, Kateryna Lagno, and Vaishali Rameshbabu, the 2023 champion.
Venue and Schedule
The event takes place at the Silk Road EXPO, which hosted the 2023 World Rapid and Blitz. The opening ceremony is set for September 3, with round one starting on September 4. Games run daily until September 15, with one rest day on September 10. Expert commentary will be available through FIDE’s YouTube channel, featuring GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko and IM Jovanka Houska.
Road to the Candidates Tournament
The FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 is a crucial step in the World Championship cycle. With so many elite Grandmasters and ambitious rising stars, Samarkand promises tension, surprises, and unforgettable battles on the board.
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