Opening Press Conference for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand
FIDE 46th Chess Olympiad Opening Press Conference: Samarkand Becomes the Center of World Chess
Samarkand has officially become the host city of the biggest team event on the chess calendar. On September 15, the ancient Uzbek city held a press conference dedicated to the opening of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad. The event served as the first major media moment of a tournament that will bring together some of the world's strongest national teams over the next two weeks.
Representatives of FIDE, the local organizers, and the Uzbek national team gathered at the same table to discuss the importance of the Olympiad for world chess, Samarkand's role in hosting an event of such scale, and expectations for the upcoming competition.
Viswanathan Anand in the Spotlight
One of the main figures at the press conference was FIDE Interim President and legendary Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand.
His presence highlighted the international importance of the Olympiad. For Anand, the Samarkand Olympiad is more than just another major tournament. It is an event that brings together chess players from different generations, countries, and chess traditions.
The discussion also featured Alisher Sadullaev, First Vice President of the Uzbekistan Chess Federation; Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, a member of the Uzbek women's team; and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the leader of Uzbekistan's men's team. The press conference was moderated by Charlize van Zyl.
This lineup offered several perspectives on the Olympiad — from the international federation and the organizers to the players who will compete at the board.
Samarkand Hosts a Record-Breaking Olympiad
Choosing Samarkand as the host city also carries symbolic significance. One of the most important cities of the ancient Silk Road is transforming into the capital of world chess for several weeks.
But the tournament's most notable achievement is its scale.
Around 400 teams have registered for the competition: 208 in the Open section and 192 in the Women's section. This is a new record for the Chess Olympiad. The previous record was set in Budapest in 2024, when 380 teams competed across the two sections.
Samarkand is therefore not simply hosting another Chess Olympiad. From the very beginning, the event is already positioning itself as a historic edition.
The Players Are the Main Attraction
Particular attention at the press conference was given to the players who will turn the scale of the event into concrete battles over the chessboard.
For Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the Olympiad carries special significance. Uzbekistan is competing on home soil, meaning that expectations from local fans will be especially high. The young grandmaster has long been regarded as one of the leaders of the new generation of world chess, and he now has the opportunity to fight for Olympic gold in front of his home crowd.
The Uzbek women's team was represented at the press conference by Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova. Her participation also underlined the importance of the Women's section, which has become one of the key platforms for the development of international women's chess in recent years.
The Olympiad Begins on September 16
Following the opening ceremony and the press events, attention will shift entirely to the chessboards.
The first round of the 46th Chess Olympiad will take place on September 16. The teams will play a total of 11 rounds under the Swiss system. A rest day is scheduled for September 22, after the sixth round, while the final round and closing ceremony are set for September 27.
In other words, the opening ceremony was only the prologue. The real battle begins at the board.
An Intense Battle Lies Ahead
Virtually all of the world's leading chess nations have arrived in Samarkand. Among the main medal contenders are the reigning Olympic champions from India, the hosts from Uzbekistan, as well as the national teams of China and the United States. In the Women's section, India and Georgia are among the leading contenders.
The Olympic format, however, is fundamentally different from individual tournaments. Having one superstar is not enough. The final result depends on the performance of the entire team, while captains must constantly balance risk with the need to maintain consistency throughout all 11 rounds.
That is why even a leading team can drop valuable points in a single difficult match — and may not have enough time to recover afterward.
The Olympiad Is About More Than Chess
The Samarkand Olympiad is taking place as part of a much broader chess program. Alongside the main competition, the city is hosting other international events, including the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities.
Samarkand will also host the FIDE Congress and elections, which could influence the future direction of the international chess organization. On September 24, the FIDE Chess in Education Summit is also scheduled to take place.
As a result, the attention of the global chess community will be focused on Uzbekistan for reasons that go far beyond the results of individual games.
Samarkand Is Ready for a Major Chess Celebration
The opening press conference made one thing clear: the 46th Chess Olympiad has already become a major international event before the first move has even been played.
A record number of teams, some of the world's strongest grandmasters, a home Olympiad for Uzbekistan, and important decisions within FIDE have created a unique combination of sporting and organizational intrigue.
Now it is up to the players.
On September 16, the competition will begin at the boards and continue for almost two weeks. Some teams will attempt to defend their titles, others will look to produce a major upset, while the hosts in Samarkand will have the opportunity to write their own chapter in the history of the Chess Olympiad.
The press conference marked the starting point. Now the entire chess world will be watching to see which team can go the distance and lift the most prestigious team trophy in chess in Samarkand.