From the ancient paths of the Silk Road to the modern battlefield of the 64 squares, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is set to host a premier global chess event. FIDE has announced that the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and Women`s Grand Swiss tournaments will take place in this historic city from **September 3 to 16, 2025**. This marks the first occasion these significant events will be held in Uzbekistan, a country steadily reinforcing its position in the international chess arena.
Why is the Grand Swiss so important? Think of it as a major on-ramp to the very top. The stakes couldn`t be clearer: the **top two finishers** in the Open Grand Swiss secure coveted spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the stepping stone to challenging for the World Championship title. Similarly, the **top two players** in the Women`s Grand Swiss will earn their places in the 2026 Women`s Candidates Tournament.
Beyond the prestige of qualification, players will be competing for considerably larger sums. FIDE has significantly boosted the prize funds for both events. The Open Grand Swiss prize pool jumps from $460,000 to a substantial **$625,000** – a hefty 36% increase. The Women`s event sees an even more dramatic rise, from $140,000 to a respectable **$230,000**, marking a 64% increase. This financial injection certainly adds another layer of intensity to the competition; navigating 11 rounds of complex chess for a chance at both glory and a significantly larger payday provides ample motivation.
Both tournaments will feature an 11-round Swiss system format, designed to test the mettle of a large field. A total of **170 players** are expected to participate: 114 in the Open Grand Swiss and 56 in the Women`s Grand Swiss.
FIDE has already released the initial lists of players who have qualified based on their rating, provided they met the criteria of playing at least 30 rated games. Currently, **100 players** have qualified for the Open event and **44** for the Women`s. These early lists feature many of the world`s top chess talents, including names like Erigaisi Arjun, Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh D, and local hero Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the Open, and Women`s World Champion Ju Wenjun, Zhu Jiner, and Tan Zhongyi among the women. However, these are not the final rosters. More players will qualify through continental spots and special nominations from the FIDE President and the Organiser in the coming months, ensuring a diverse and powerful field.
As Samarkand prepares to welcome the chess world, the announcement of the dates and initial qualifiers sets the stage for one of the most anticipated events on the 2025 calendar. With increased prizes and direct paths to the Candidates, the competition promises to be fierce and captivating.
