S-Tier 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026
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46th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026

Sep 16, 2026 – Sep 27, 2026
🏆 11-Round Swiss ⏱ Classical 90/40, 30+30
📍 Samarkand, Uzbekistan 🌐 Official website

The Chess Olympiad is a prestigious national team competition. The event is held every two years and organized by FIDE. The 2026 Olympiad follows the 2024 edition held in Budapest, Hungary, where India won gold in both the men's and women's groups.

$44,000 for Each Player — Kazakhstan Women's Team to be Rewarded for Silver Medal at the Chess Olympiad

$44,000 for Each Player — Kazakhstan Women's Team to be Rewarded for Silver Medal at the Chess Olympiad

"Going two weeks to play some tournament that we already got a gold medal at? The motivation isn't there" — Hikaru Nakamura on Not Playing at the Olympiad

"Going two weeks to play some tournament that we already got a gold medal at? The motivation isn't there" — Hikaru Nakamura on Not Playing at the Olympiad

Gukesh and Pragg Receive $15,000 Each for Second Place at the Olympiad

Gukesh and Pragg Receive $15,000 Each for Second Place at the Olympiad

"At the Olympiad Gukesh made a conscious decision that he will just have fun like a normal 20-year-old" — Indian Team Captain Srinath Narayanan

"At the Olympiad Gukesh made a conscious decision that he will just have fun like a normal 20-year-old" — Indian Team Captain Srinath Narayanan

"It's good for Gukesh to be reminded that he can play really well!" — Gukesh's Coach Gajewski

"It's good for Gukesh to be reminded that he can play really well!" — Gukesh's Coach Gajewski

Three Afghans Still Not Released from House Arrest Over Playing at the Olympiad — "We are deeply concerned for our safety..."

Three Afghans Still Not Released from House Arrest Over Playing at the Olympiad — "We are deeply concerned for our safety..."

Spain Women's Team Player Hospitalized Mid-Olympiad — "They found I had a very bad stomach infection..."

Spain Women's Team Player Hospitalized Mid-Olympiad — "They found I had a very bad stomach infection..."

"I completely fell sick during the Olympiad... If I was not representing India, I would have taken a rest" — Koneru Humpy

"I completely fell sick during the Olympiad... If I was not representing India, I would have taken a rest" — Koneru Humpy

"I was having a cold and a little fever in the last few days of the Olympiad..." — Praggnanandhaa R

"I was having a cold and a little fever in the last few days of the Olympiad..." — Praggnanandhaa R

"It's good to see that hard work and professionalism, the values that I stand by, are real!" — Anish Giri on Uzbekistan's Olympiad Victory

"It's good to see that hard work and professionalism, the values that I stand by, are real!" — Anish Giri on Uzbekistan's Olympiad Victory

Kazakhstan Women's Team Was Denied Payment for Silver Medal at the Chess Olympiad

Kazakhstan Women's Team Was Denied Payment for Silver Medal at the Chess Olympiad

"I think Vidit should become Dutch player... He would be one of the best Dutch players for years to come" — Anish Giri

"I think Vidit should become Dutch player... He would be one of the best Dutch players for years to come" — Anish Giri

"Even when we are not at our best, we can still win silver. That shows how good the team is" — Indian Team Captain Srinath Narayanan

"Even when we are not at our best, we can still win silver. That shows how good the team is" — Indian Team Captain Srinath Narayanan

Three Afghans Arrested on Home Soil for Playing at the Chess Olympiad — Players May Face Harsh Punishment

Three Afghans Arrested on Home Soil for Playing at the Chess Olympiad — Players May Face Harsh Punishment

"We were unlucky in the match against Uzbekistan..." — Levon Aronian

"We were unlucky in the match against Uzbekistan..." — Levon Aronian

"Food was brought for us from different restaurants, that were about a 45-minute drive away" — Vidit on Difficulties at the Olympiad

"Food was brought for us from different restaurants, that were about a 45-minute drive away" — Vidit on Difficulties at the Olympiad

"Back then, chess was not given such great attention in Uzbekistan... The thoughts about changing federation appeared exactly then" — Javokhir Sindarov

"Back then, chess was not given such great attention in Uzbekistan... The thoughts about changing federation appeared exactly then" — Javokhir Sindarov

I have about 10% to beat an untitled player 100-0 in Bullet — Daniil Dubov

I have about 10% to beat an untitled player 100-0 in Bullet — Daniil Dubov

Gukesh: "I enjoyed the Olympiad more than a lot of the last tournaments that I have played..."

Gukesh: "I enjoyed the Olympiad more than a lot of the last tournaments that I have played..."

"Gukesh decided to play this move in honor of Hikaru Nakamura" — Hikaru Nakamura

"Gukesh decided to play this move in honor of Hikaru Nakamura" — Hikaru Nakamura

"I think I played pretty terrible the whole tournament... I'm not happy with my play in general" — Matthias Bluebaum

"I think I played pretty terrible the whole tournament... I'm not happy with my play in general" — Matthias Bluebaum

"Everyone knows my next job!" — Sindarov After Winning the Olympiad

"Everyone knows my next job!" — Sindarov After Winning the Olympiad

Nakamura: "It's definitely a huge disappointment for everybody on the US team"

Nakamura: "It's definitely a huge disappointment for everybody on the US team"

"I can safely say that Uzbekistan is number one at this moment" — Nodirbek Abdusattorov

"I can safely say that Uzbekistan is number one at this moment" — Nodirbek Abdusattorov

China Wins Its Seventh Women's Olympiad

China Wins Its Seventh Women's Olympiad

Uzbekistan Wins 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand

Uzbekistan Wins 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand

Uzbekistan and India to Fight for the Gold Medal — Chess Olympiad Day 10

Uzbekistan and India to Fight for the Gold Medal — Chess Olympiad Day 10

Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes the Youngest WGM in History at 11

Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes the Youngest WGM in History at 11

"I'm running out of energy, honestly... A very long Olympiad" — Bibisara Assaubayeva

"I'm running out of energy, honestly... A very long Olympiad" — Bibisara Assaubayeva

"I have a dice with me..." — Jan Gustafsson on Deciding Who to Pick for Board 4

"I have a dice with me..." — Jan Gustafsson on Deciding Who to Pick for Board 4

Uzbekistan Defeats USA and Takes a 1-Point Lead — Chess Olympiad Day 9

Uzbekistan Defeats USA and Takes a 1-Point Lead — Chess Olympiad Day 9

"We've been trying to do 'Uzmaxxing'… there are no Uzbek opponents left now" — German Team Coach Jan Gustafsson

"We've been trying to do 'Uzmaxxing'… there are no Uzbek opponents left now" — German Team Coach Jan Gustafsson

"Maybe, Hans needs to study his Classics..." — Levon Aronian

"Maybe, Hans needs to study his Classics..." — Levon Aronian

Germany Ends Uzbekistan's Win Streak — Chess Olympiad Day 8

Germany Ends Uzbekistan's Win Streak — Chess Olympiad Day 8

"Unfortunately, some of us haven't been in the best form…" — Fabiano Caruana on Team USA

"Unfortunately, some of us haven't been in the best form…" — Fabiano Caruana on Team USA

Gukesh Holds the Best Performance on India's Olympic Team

Gukesh Holds the Best Performance on India's Olympic Team

Uzbekistan Remains Undefeated with a 2-Point Lead — Chess Olympiad Day 7

Uzbekistan Remains Undefeated with a 2-Point Lead — Chess Olympiad Day 7

"I believe Israel's opponents should have agreed to the reschedule, if the time of play was still reasonable" — Vladimir Kramnik

"I believe Israel's opponents should have agreed to the reschedule, if the time of play was still reasonable" — Vladimir Kramnik

"The ratings of all Russians are objectively deflated right now..." — Ian Nepomniachtchi

"The ratings of all Russians are objectively deflated right now..." — Ian Nepomniachtchi

"I will always try to be close to Abdusattorov, and it gives me a lot of motivation" — Javokhir Sindarov

"I will always try to be close to Abdusattorov, and it gives me a lot of motivation" — Javokhir Sindarov

"After losing to Germany we put our goals a lot less… Even if we get bronze, a team medal would be great" — Wesley So

"After losing to Germany we put our goals a lot less… Even if we get bronze, a team medal would be great" — Wesley So

FIDE Approved Special Olympiad Schedule for Israel 8 Months Prior

FIDE Approved Special Olympiad Schedule for Israel 8 Months Prior

"Gukesh is a great guy... But I don't like this term 'World Champion' at all" — Alexei Shirov

"Gukesh is a great guy... But I don't like this term 'World Champion' at all" — Alexei Shirov

"USA has no margin for error if they want to have any hope of competing for the gold medal" — Hikaru Nakamura

"USA has no margin for error if they want to have any hope of competing for the gold medal" — Hikaru Nakamura

Israel Skips the Match Against the Netherlands Due to Religious Holiday

Israel Skips the Match Against the Netherlands Due to Religious Holiday

"It feels great! We earned a lot of tiebreak points…" — Ding Liren on Defeating Team Germany

"It feels great! We earned a lot of tiebreak points…" — Ding Liren on Defeating Team Germany

Women's Chess Olympiad 2026 Round 6: China and Kazakhstan lead with 12 points

Women's Chess Olympiad 2026 Round 6: China and Kazakhstan lead with 12 points

Chess Olympiad 2026 Round 6: Uzbekistan leads with 12 points

Chess Olympiad 2026 Round 6: Uzbekistan leads with 12 points

China Takes the Lead — Chess Olympiad Day 4

China Takes the Lead — Chess Olympiad Day 4

"Our player had to ask the arbiter whether I was allowed to give him a banana..." — German Team Coach Jan Gustafsson

"Our player had to ask the arbiter whether I was allowed to give him a banana..." — German Team Coach Jan Gustafsson

Uzbekistan and China Tied for 3rd Place, India for 7th — Chess Olympiad Day 3

Uzbekistan and China Tied for 3rd Place, India for 7th — Chess Olympiad Day 3

"Life is not only about chess. I still have other hobbies. Many sports and some kinds of movies" — Ding Liren

"Life is not only about chess. I still have other hobbies. Many sports and some kinds of movies" — Ding Liren

"It was my idea" — Gukesh Dommaraju on Playing Board 4 for Team India

"It was my idea" — Gukesh Dommaraju on Playing Board 4 for Team India

"Disrespectful" — Wesley So Criticizes Gukesh's Board Position on Team India

"Disrespectful" — Wesley So Criticizes Gukesh's Board Position on Team India

"I have to stay in good physical health so I can play at least for another 30 years on the Olympiad team" — Hans Moke Niemann

"I have to stay in good physical health so I can play at least for another 30 years on the Olympiad team" — Hans Moke Niemann

Uzbekistan 8 Points, India 6 Points — Chess Olympiad Day 2

Uzbekistan 8 Points, India 6 Points — Chess Olympiad Day 2

"My team might have left me out of the group chat for the good players" — Awonder Liang

"My team might have left me out of the group chat for the good players" — Awonder Liang

Gukesh Dommaraju Drops Below 2700 for the First Time in 4 Years

Gukesh Dommaraju Drops Below 2700 for the First Time in 4 Years

"This is my second tournament as a Grandmaster..." — Faustino Oro

"This is my second tournament as a Grandmaster..." — Faustino Oro

Uzbekistan 4-0, USA 3.5-0.5, India 3-1 — Chess Olympiad Day 1

Uzbekistan 4-0, USA 3.5-0.5, India 3-1 — Chess Olympiad Day 1

FIDE Speaks About Accommodation Troubles — "Teams will be reimbursed for the cost"

FIDE Speaks About Accommodation Troubles — "Teams will be reimbursed for the cost"

Pakistan Refused to Play Against Israel at the Chess Olympiad

Pakistan Refused to Play Against Israel at the Chess Olympiad

ChessBase India CEO Sagar Shah Faces Criticism Over a Question at the Chess Olympiad

ChessBase India CEO Sagar Shah Faces Criticism Over a Question at the Chess Olympiad

Chess Olympiad 2026 Begins in Samarkand on September 16

Chess Olympiad 2026 Begins in Samarkand on September 16

"The team landed 5 hours ago...still haven't been allotted rooms"- Indian captain

"The team landed 5 hours ago...still haven't been allotted rooms"- Indian captain

Magnus Carlsen Will Not Play at the Chess Olympiad — Norway Roster Revealed

Magnus Carlsen Will Not Play at the Chess Olympiad — Norway Roster Revealed

Gukesh, Erigaisi, Pragg, Sarin, and Vidit to Play for India at the Chess Olympiad 2026

Gukesh, Erigaisi, Pragg, Sarin, and Vidit to Play for India at the Chess Olympiad 2026

Keymer, Bluebaum, and Svane to Play for Germany at the Chess Olympiad 2026

Keymer, Bluebaum, and Svane to Play for Germany at the Chess Olympiad 2026

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