Samarkand hosts 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad with record participation

The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad has commenced in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, running from September 15 to 27, 2026. This edition is a record-breaking event, featuring 400 registered teams across the Open and Women's sections.

Top contenders for the titles include the United States, India, Uzbekistan, and China in the Open section, while India, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and China are leading the Women's field. India enters the tournament as the defending champion in both categories.

Despite the prestige of the event, the start has been marred by organizational issues. The Indian national teams, including defending champions, reported significant delays upon arrival, being left without hotel accommodations for several hours. Grandmasters Srinath Narayanan and Vidit Gujrathi expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding room allotments at their designated hotel.

The tournament will consist of 11 rounds played under the Swiss system, with the competition officially beginning on September 16.