In Chess, the prestigious FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 is set to begin today at the Silk Road EXPO in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Running until September 15, the tournament is one of the most important events in world chess.
All eyes are on R Praggnanandhaa, India’s highest-rated player and current world number 4, as he leads the field as the top seed in the Open section. Joining him in the formidable Indian squad are World Champion D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and defending champion Vidit Gujrathi. Adding to the excitement, India’s Women’s Champion, Divya Deshmukh, is making headlines by competing in the Open section as well.
In the Women’s section, India’s top hope is defending champion Vaishali Rameshbabu, who returns with confidence and strong form. She will be joined by promising talents like Vantika Agrawal. Global stars like Alireza Firouzja, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Anish Giri, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov add to the competition, making it one of the strongest Swiss events ever.
The tournament features 172 players, 116 in the Open and 56 in the Women’s section. The top two from each section will qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, a key step toward the World Chess Championship. The event follows an 11-round Swiss format. The prize pool is 625,000 US dollars for the Open and 230,000 US dollars for the Women’s section. With momentum and talent on their side, India’s players will be looking to shine once again on the world stage.
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