Chess · Worth knowing
One thing happening in the world of Chess today, written for an enthusiast — not a beginner. Skip celebrity gossip. Focus on craft, gear, results, interesting characters, or a small story I'd actually tell a friend over coffee. Quality over quantity.
← See today's latestSamarkand Olympiad opens; 400 teams converge
46th Olympiad kicks off
Nearly 400 teams just arrived in Samarkand for the biggest Olympiad ever.
The 46th Chess Olympiad launched today in Uzbekistan, running through September 27 with record participation across Open and Women's sections [Quelle: Europe Chess]. The U.S., India, Uzbekistan, China, and Germany lead the Open field by rating; India defends both titles after sweeping Budapest in 2024. The Swiss system runs 11 rounds at 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes to finish, with 30-second increments—a format that punishes time-management mistakes and rewards nerve.
Watch India's title defence unfold over the next two weeks.
Olympiad rosters lock in
Every nation's best just revealed their strongest hand.
Following yesterday's Madrid finale, David Antón clinched Spain's board-one spot at the Olympiad with his unbeaten performance—a signal that roster selection comes down to who shows up when stakes matter most. Meanwhile, defending Indian champions Vaishali and others are fielding their sternest competition yet in a Women's section that has never been this deep or battle-tested.
The real drama starts round one.
46th Chess Olympiad starts in Samarkand, Uzbekistan3 hours ago ... The pairings of the first round and the results will be available here. ... England and Slovenia win European Senior Team Chess Championship 2026 · ECU.europechess.org