Aleksandra Goryachkina to Play in the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 Open Section
In a bold move, Russian female Grandmaster Aleksandra Goryachkina, one of the world’s top female chess players, has been granted a wild card by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich to compete in the Open section of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, set to take place from September 3–16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This marks her second appearance in the prestigious open event, following her historic participation in 2021, where she became the first woman to compete in the open sections of both the Russian Championship Superfinal and the FIDE Grand Swiss.
Goryachkina, who has already qualified for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament through her stellar performance in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, opted to challenge herself against the world’s elite players in the Open section rather than competing in the Women’s Grand Swiss. Her decision underscores her ambition and confidence, as she is the only top female player to request this switch for the 2025 tournament. A shadow of the great, Judit Polgar, is apparent in Goryachkina. With an Elo rating surpassing 2600—a feat achieved by only five women in chess history—Goryachkina is poised to make waves in a field dominated by the game’s heaviest hitters.
The FIDE Grand Swiss is a critical qualifier for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, with the top two finishers earning spots to compete for the World Chess Championship title. Goryachkina’s participation in the 11-round Swiss-system event adds an exciting dynamic to the tournament.
Photo courtesy: FIDE (International Federation of Chess)
