Chess · Worth knowing

The 46th Chess Olympiad took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from September 16-27, 2026, with India finishing second in the Open team competition. The Indian squad of Praggnanandhaa (2761), Erigaisi (2759), Nihal Sarin (2718), and Gukesh (2703) accumulated 18 points across 11 Swiss-System rounds, with Praggnanandhaa scoring 6.5/10, Erigaisi 5.5/10, Nihal 6/10, and Gukesh 8.5/11. Gukesh delivered a standout performance with 8.5 points despite playing multiple opponents rated above 2600, while Praggnanandhaa maintained consistency with 6.5 points against elite competition including wins against Anish Giri and draws against Vincent Keymer and Richard Rapport.

The 46th Chess Olympiad took place in Samarkand from September 16-27, 2026, with Uzbekistan winning the open competition, followed by India in second place and Germany in third. The tournament used a Swiss system format across 11 rounds with an average rating of 2139 and featured 4,475 games available for analysis. The closing ceremony was held at the Eternal City Amphitheater, with players required to present their badges for attendance.

The Virgin Islands National Chess Team received a hero's welcome after competing at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Three players earned Candidate Master titles or recognition: Shamoy Joseph and 14-year-old Kiara Phillip achieved Candidate Master status, while Jhon Samuel received recognition for conditional Candidate Master achievement. Team VI fielded competitors in both Open and Women's sections across 11 rounds of international team competition against players from countries with significantly larger chess populations and established systems. The Virgin Islands Chess Federation, whose involvement with international chess dates back to 1974, is focusing on strengthening the sport locally and pursuing more regional competitions, with aspirations of helping current Candidate Masters advance further and developing additional national players ahead of the next Chess Olympiad in Abu Dhabi.