In early September 2025, chess fans from around the world turned their eyes to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where the Grand Swiss tournament was underway. This was no ordinary competition the event offered players a path to the 2026 Candidates Tournament, one of the crucial steps toward challenging for the world title. Both the Open section and
In early September 2025, chess fans from around the world turned their eyes to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where the Grand Swiss tournament was underway. This was no ordinary competition the event offered players a path to the 2026 Candidates Tournament, one of the crucial steps toward challenging for the world title. Both the Open section and the Women’s section had high stakes: to qualify, competitors had to show consistency, nerve, and clutch performance.Among the favorites was Anish Giri of the Netherlands, known for his solid style and many draws, but always dangerous. On the women’s side, rising star Vaishali Rameshbabu of India stood out, aiming to make history.
Giri played with patience. Rather than risking everything, he managed many draws but picked his moments carefully. In the final round, he faced Hans Niemann in a crucial game. Giri stepped up, winning that match to ensure he would be the sole qualifier for the Candidates from the Open side.Matthias Blübaum from Germany, seeded much lower, also surprised many. He landed the second qualifying spot in the Open section, finishing with 7.5/11 points and clinching it via tiebreaks. On the women’s side, Vaishali Rameshbabu defended her Grand Swiss title something no one in either Open or Women’s section had done before. She tied on points (8/11) with Kateryna Lagno, but edged her out on tiebreaks to take the top spot. Both still qualify for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament. There were also individual moments that caught attention, such as young players performing well, and some top seeds underperforming under pressure.
By the end of the event, the map of chess rankings and the path to world titles has shifted:
- Giri’s victory gives him a shot at the Candidates 2026, keeping him very much in the mix for the world championship cycle. His strategy of cautious aggression paid off.
- Vaishali Rameshbabu’s back-to-back wins in this tournament not only secure her place among the top women players globally but also reinforce that she is among the serious contenders for the world title.
- Several rising young players and underdogs showed that they can compete under the pressure of high stakes. The chess world will likely watch them more closely in future events.
- On the ratings front, there were shake-ups. Some established grandmasters dropped due to tough performances, while younger players moved up. For example, Vincent Keymer broke into the top-10 in FIDE classical ratings.
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