FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss September 3 to 15, 2025

[Mick Norris]

FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

the top two players in the Women’s Grand Swiss will qualify for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament

This will be the first time the prestigious event is hosted in Uzbekistan, a country with a rich chess heritage and rapidly growing influence in the global chess community. From their gold-medal performance at the 2022 Chess Olympiad to a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympiad, as well as hosting world-class events such as the 2022 Women’s Candidates Tournament in Khiva, the 2023 Rapid and Blitz World Championships, and the upcoming 2026 Chess Olympiad in Tashkent, Uzbekistan has firmly established itself as a chess powerhouse and a major hub for the game.

[LawrenceCooper]

FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

the top two players in the Women’s Grand Swiss will qualify for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament

This will be the first time the prestigious event is hosted in Uzbekistan, a country with a rich chess heritage and rapidly growing influence in the global chess community. From their gold-medal performance at the 2022 Chess Olympiad to a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympiad, as well as hosting world-class events such as the 2022 Women’s Candidates Tournament in Khiva, the 2023 Rapid and Blitz World Championships, and the upcoming 2026 Chess Olympiad in Tashkent, Uzbekistan has firmly established itself as a chess powerhouse and a major hub for the game.

For anyone wondering if the final from the previous cycle will ever happen I quote Emil Sutovsky on X/Twitter:

"We are waiting final confirmation on the dates from China this week."
"It will take place in April."
"Because we were asked by CCA to wait till they finalize. Players are informed and getting prepared."

https://x.com/LozHCooper/status/1881742371253363067

[Mick Norris]

Qualified players

44 plus 5 reserves

[Mick Norris]

Players

FIDE

Former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi is the top-rated participant in the Women’s Grand Swiss, followed by seasoned elite world players – Humpy Koneru, Anna Muzychuk and Kateryna Lagno. The 2023 winner, Vaishali Rameshbabu (24) is also taking part.

Lei Tingjie (who won the inaugural Women’s Grand Swiss, in 2021, in Riga), is also playing, after receiving a wildcard invite from FIDE.

The Women’s Grand Swiss will also see emerging talents take part, such as world junior champion and runner-up, Divya Deshmukh (19) and Lu Miaoyi (15) and Leya Garifullina (20).