FIDE Grand Swiss 2025: Qualified Players Announced for Samarkand Showdown

On June 5, 2025, the International Chess Federation unveiled the initial list of qualified players for the FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss 2025, set to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 3–16, 2025.

Grand Swiss is played as an 11-round Swiss with Candidates spots at stake. This prestigious event, a cornerstone of the chess world, will see 170 players—114 in the Open section and 56 in the Women’s section—compete in an 11-round Swiss-system tournament. The top two finishers in each event will secure coveted spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament and Women’s Candidates Tournament, respectively, advancing their pursuit of the World Chess Championship title.

So far, 100 players have qualified for the Grand Swiss based on their FIDE ratings, with 44 women qualifying for the Women’s Grand Swiss. Notable players include reigning world champion D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Caruana, Firouzja, Praggnanandhaa, Abdusattorov, Nepomniachtchi, etc. High-profile players like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura are noticeably absent from the initial list due to not meeting the 30-rated-games eligibility requirement. Even though the players have been vocal about their dying desire of playing classical chess, possibility of a wild card for either remains alive.

The event, hosted for the first time in Uzbekistan, boasts a record prize fund of $855,000—$625,000 for the Open and $230,000 for the Women’s event, marking significant increases of 36% and 64%, respectively. The final participant list, including continental spots and wild cards, will be confirmed closer to the tournament, promising a fierce battle among the world’s chess elite.

Official website: https://grandswiss2025.fide.com/