FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026 begins in Samarkand with mixed results for India

The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad has commenced in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, featuring over 3,000 participants and hundreds of teams. The tournament has seen significant early developments across various sections.

In the Open section, defending champions India secured a 3-1 victory over Thailand in the opening round. However, the match was marked by a major upset as Arjun Erigaisi suffered a defeat to Thailand’s Prin Laohawirapap following a tactical error under time pressure. Other Indian players, including D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, and Vidit Gujrathi, secured wins to maintain the team's momentum. In the second round, Nihal Sarin overcame a difficult position against Indonesia to help secure a win.

The Indian women’s team also began their title defense strongly, recording a 4-0 sweep against the Dominican Republic and a subsequent dominant performance against Finland.

Organizational challenges have emerged, with FIDE announcing it will reimburse teams, including India, for accommodation costs after several players faced lodging issues and long waits upon arrival. Additionally, the tournament saw a political boycott when Pakistan declined to play its scheduled match against Israel, resulting in a 4-0 walkover for Israel.