The FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 is ready to burst onto the chess scene in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 4th to 15th! This isn’t just another tournament; it’s the battleground where legends, prodigies, and rising phenoms collide for a shot at Candidates’ glory and a piece of an enormous prize pool. If you’re craving entertainment, drama, and some absolutely savage games, this year’s edition has everything a chess fan could possibly want.
Grand Swiss 2025 is stacked, even without some megastars like Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Fabiano Caruana in the mix; the lineup screams intensity. The top two finishers in both Open and Women’s sections will qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines who gets a shot at the world title. And let’s not forget: India’s young superstars, the reigning World Champion Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi, are set to clash head-to-head with a wave of international heavyweights and fearless newcomers.
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 Format
Both the Open and Women’s events feature an 11-round Swiss format. In the Open section, players get 100 minutes for 40 moves, then 50 minutes for the next 20, and finally 15 minutes for the rest, plus a 30-second increment from move one. The Women’s section time control is similar, guaranteeing marathon battles and zero room for slackers.
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025: Power-Packed Lineup
If you’re someone who loves stats and sheer star presence, check out this table showcasing just a slice of the titans battling in Samarkand:
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 Top Seeds: Open Section Players
| Seed | Player | Elo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM Praggnanandhaa R | 2785 |
| 2 | GM Arjun Erigaisi | 2771 |
| 3 | GM Gukesh D | 2767 |
| 4 | GM Alireza Firouzja | 2754 |
| 5 | GM Vincent Keymer | 2751 |
| 6 | GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 2748 |
| 7 | GM Anish Giri | 2746 |
| 8 | GM Levon Aronian | 2744 |
| 9 | GM Ian Nepomniachtchi | 2742 |
| 10 | GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2741 |
| 11 | GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 2738 |
| 12 | GM Hans Moke Niemann | 2733 |
| 13 | GM Vladimir Fedoseev | 2731 |
| 14 | GM Javokhir Sindarov | 2722 |
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 Top Seeds: Women’s Section
| Seed | Player | Elo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM Anna Muzychuk | 2535 |
| 2 | GM Tan Zhongyi | 2531 |
| 3 | GM Bibisara Assaubayeva | 2505 |
| 4 | GM Kateryna Lagno | 2505 |
| 5 | IM Polina Shuvalova | 2492 |
| 6 | GM Mariya Muzychuk | 2484 |
| 7 | IM Yuliia Osmak | 2478 |
| 8 | IM Leya Garifullina | 2477 |
| 9 | GM Alexandra Kosteniuk | 2472 |
| 10 | GM Harika Dronavalli | 2467 |
| 11 | IM Carissa Yip | 2458 |
| 12 | IM Teodora Injac | 2454 |
| 13 | GM Vaishali Rameshbabu | 2452 |
| 14 | IM Lu Miaoyi | 2449 |
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 Full Schedule
Get your coffee ready, because these dates are going to be intense:
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Sep 3, 13:30 UTC | Opening Ceremony |
| Sep 4, 10:00 UTC | Round 1 |
| Sep 5, 10:00 UTC | Round 2 |
| Sep 6, 10:00 UTC | Round 3 |
| Sep 7, 10:00 UTC | Round 4 |
| Sep 8, 10:00 UTC | Round 5 |
| Sep 9, 10:00 UTC | Round 6 |
| Sep 10 | Rest Day |
| Sep 11, 10:00 UTC | Round 7 |
| Sep 12, 10:00 UTC | Round 8 |
| Sep 13, 10:00 UTC | Round 9 |
| Sep 14, 10:00 UTC | Round 10 |
| Sep 15, 09:00 UTC | Round 11 |
| Sep 15, 16:00 UTC | Closing Ceremony |
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 Prize Money
And now, for the mind-blowing part. The prize fund this year? You better believe it’s a record-breaker:
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $90,000 |
| 2nd | $75,000 |
| 3rd | $62,000 |
| 4th | $50,000 |
| 5th | $40,000 |
| 6th | $32,000 |
| 7th | $26,000 |
| 8th | $21,000 |
| 9th | $18,000 |
| 10th | $15,000 |
| 11th-15th | $10,000 |
| 16th-25th | $6,800 |
| 26th-35th | $4,500 |
| 36th-50th | $2,200 |
The winner in the Open takes home a whopping $90,000, and in Women’s, $40,000. Clearly, these players are not just fighting for glory; they’re playing for serious stacks.
So, get psyched for the Grand Swiss 2025, where young stars, seasoned legends, and the future of world chess all converge. It’s high stakes, fierce moves, and a shot at immortality. Who will rise? Who will fall? It’s time to find out!
Also read: FIDE CEO On Hikaru Nakamura’s Allegations Of Magnus Carlsen Favouritism
