The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad is underway in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with a record number of teams competing overall, including 189 teams in the Women’s section – the largest number of women’s teams ever to compete in a Chess Olympiad.
From 16 to 28 September, chess players from around the world have gathered in the historic city of Samarkand for one of the biggest events in the chess calendar.
India arrives as the defending champion in both the Open and Women’s sections, after winning gold in both competitions at the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest. The Women’s section promises another exciting battle, with some of the strongest teams in the world competing for the Vera Menchik Cup.
Unique meeting in Samarkand
Among the top five seeds are India, Georgia, Kazakhstan, China and the United States.
The field is also full of some of the biggest names in women’s chess. The five highest-rated players in the starting list are Zhu Jiner of China, Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan, Koneru Humpy of India, Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland and Divya Deshmukh of India.
There is plenty of experience among the players in Samarkand. Former Women’s World Champions Alexandra Kosteniuk and Anna Ushenina are both competing, while former world number one Pia Cramling is also taking part, representing team Sweden together with her daughter, Anna, a strong player and a famous content creator.
At the other end of the spectrum, young talents such as England’s Bodhana Sivanandan are bringing the next generation of women’s chess into the spotlight.
The Chess Olympiad is also a unique meeting point for the global chess community. Teams from established chess nations such as India and Uzbekistan come together with federations from countries where the game is only beginning to grow, including Saint Kitts and Nevis, Eswatini and many others. This is what makes the Olympiad so much more than a competition – it is the biggest celebration of chess in the world.
WOM in Samarkand
Samarkand is also an opportunity to highlight several WOM projects supporting women and girls in chess.
The ChessMom project is returning for its second edition, supporting mothers of young children and helping them combine family life with participation in high-level chess. WOM is also continuing its work on developing new national women’s teams and creating more opportunities for women to participate in competitive chess around the world.
More about these projects and the women involved will be shared throughout the Olympiad.
The Commission will also hold its meeting in Samarkand on 22 September under the theme “Beyond the Board: Women, Innovation and the Business of Chess”. The meeting will look at the many opportunities for women in chess beyond playing, including entrepreneurship, content creation, streaming, investment and other professional paths.
On the board and beyond
WOM Chair Tris-Ann Richards is also part of the action on the board, representing Saint Lucia in the Women’s Olympiad.
Her participation is a great example of the many roles women can have in chess – as players, federation leaders, organisers and advocates for the development of the game.
With 189 women’s teams competing, this Olympiad is already historic. Every team represents players, coaches, federations and communities that are contributing to the growth of women’s chess.
Make sure to follow this wonderful event and cheer for your countires!
