FIDE has officially announced key details regarding the 2025 editions of the FIDE Grand Swiss and Women`s Grand Swiss tournaments. The prestigious events are scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 3 to September 16, 2025. This marks a significant moment as Uzbekistan, a nation with deep chess roots and a growing contemporary presence in the global chess arena, prepares to host this major qualifying event for the first time.
The FIDE Grand Swiss stands as a critical milestone on the path to the World Championship cycle. It serves as a direct qualifier for the Candidates Tournament, the event that determines the challenger for the reigning World Champion. In 2025, the top two finishers in the Open Grand Swiss will earn coveted spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Similarly, the top two players from the Women`s Grand Swiss will secure their places in the 2026 Women`s Candidates Tournament.
Adding further weight to the tournament`s significance is a substantial increase in the prize funds. The Open Grand Swiss prize pool has been boosted by 36%, rising from $460,000 to $625,000. The Women`s Grand Swiss sees an even more impressive increase of 64%, with the prize fund jumping from $140,000 to $230,000. This enhancement reflects FIDE`s commitment to supporting professional chess and is particularly impactful for the women`s circuit.
Both tournaments will feature a competitive 11-round Swiss format. A total of 170 players are expected to participate across the two events: 114 in the Open Grand Swiss and 56 in the Women’s Grand Swiss, bringing together a diverse field of international talent.
Initial lists of qualified players have been released, primarily based on rating criteria. As of the current announcement, 100 players have qualified for the Open Grand Swiss by rating, and 44 players for the Women`s Grand Swiss. Eligibility for this rating-based qualification required players to have completed at least 30 rated games. These initial lists provide a glimpse of the strong contenders, featuring many of the world`s top-ranked players. However, these are not the final rosters. The full list of participants will be finalized once spots allocated through continental qualification, nominations by the FIDE President, and nominations by the Organiser are announced, promising a complete and exciting lineup for Samarkand.
The countdown to September 2025 in Samarkand has begun, setting the stage for intense competition as players vie for the prestigious qualification spots and increased prize money in one of chess`s premier open events.
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley