Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh Headline FIDE Grand Swiss as India Eyes Candidates Spots

New Delhi, July 8, 2025 — Indian chess stars Arjun Erigaisi and reigning world champion D Gukesh have secured the top two seedings for the fourth FIDE Grand Swiss chess tournament, set to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 3 to 16. The high-stakes event promises an enhanced prize fund and coveted spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the gateway to a world championship title match.

The Grand Swiss remains a crucial battleground on the chess calendar. According to tournament regulations, the top two finishers in both the Open and Women’s sections will earn tickets to the Candidates, where the challenger for the world title will be determined.

Erigaisi and Gukesh, seeded first and second respectively, lead a strong Indian contingent. R Praggnanandhaa is seeded fourth, trailing only behind Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, while 22-year-old Alireza Firouzja of France occupies the fifth spot.

Missing from the lineup are former world champions Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand, who did not meet the requirement of having played at least 30 classical-rated games between July 2024 and June 2025. Defending world champion Ding Liren will also skip the event, while American star Fabiano Caruana, a veteran of all previous Grand Swiss tournaments, has already qualified for the Candidates through the 2024 FIDE Circuit.

The Open section features an impressive top 10, rounded out by Ian Nepomniachtchi, Anish Giri, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Levon Aronian, and Vladimir Fedoseev, promising thrilling clashes among seasoned grandmasters and rising stars alike.

Notably, the prize fund for the Open section has been increased to USD 625,000 from USD 460,000 in 2023. The women’s event, which includes 56 players, will see a purse of USD 230,000, up from USD 140,000 last year.

Among the 116 participants in the Open section, 101 have qualified via ratings, with the remainder comprising continental representatives, FIDE wildcards, and nominees from local organisers.

Adding youthful energy to the field are young stars like Hans Niemann (22), Vincent Keymer (20), Javokhir Sindarov (19), Nihal Sarin (20), and Awonder Liang (22), all ranked within the top 20.

Veteran names will also grace the boards in Samarkand. Former world title contender Boris Gelfand and former women’s world championship challenger Aleksandra Goryachkina have both secured wildcards and will compete in the Open event.

The 11-round Swiss format tournament promises high drama as India’s chess elite seek to build on recent successes, following Vidit Gujrathi and R Vaishali’s triumphs in the 2023 Grand Swiss in the Open and Women’s sections respectively.