R. Vaishali has surged back into a joint lead in the Women's FIDE Grand Swiss tournament, while the Indian men faced challenges in the Open section. The FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 is taking place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 2 to 16, 2025. This tournament is a part of the World Championship cycle qualifications, offering a significant opportunity for players to qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
In a crucial tenth-round match, R. Vaishali defeated former world champion Mariya Muzychuk of Ukraine. Vaishali, playing with white, adopted an aggressive approach against Muzychuk's Sicilian defense. Although Muzychuk initially appeared to have the upper hand, she faltered under pressure, allowing Vaishali to secure a victory in 42 moves. This win propelled Vaishali into a shared lead with Kateryna Lagno of Ukraine, both holding 7.5 points out of a possible 10. Following closely behind are Zhongyi Tan and Yuxin Song of China, and Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan, each with seven points. With a win or a draw in the final round, Vaishali's chances of securing a spot in the Candidates Tournament look promising.
Earlier in the tournament, Vaishali demonstrated her determination by defeating IM Guo Qi in the seventh round, which briefly gave her the sole lead. In that game, playing with the white pieces, Vaishali launched a checkmating attack against Guo Qi. After the seventh round, Kateryna Lagno was in sole second place. Vaishali's performance in the Women's Grand Swiss has been remarkable, especially considering her victory at the 2023 Grand Swiss.
In the Open section, the Indian men's journey to securing Candidates Tournament spots has become more challenging. Arjun Erigaisi drew his game against Yu Yangyi of China, while Nihal Sarin, who was previously a joint leader, could only manage a draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan. R Praggnanandhaa's hopes of qualifying for the Candidates from this tournament ended after his loss to Hans Moke Niemann of the United States. The Open section now sees a five-way tie for the lead, with Alireza Firouzja of France, the German duo of Matthias Bluebaum and Vincent Keymar, Anish Giri of Holland, and Hans Niemann all holding seven points.
Nihal Sarin had a strong run earlier in the tournament, grabbing the lead alongside Matthias Bluebaum after defeating Parham Maghsoodloo. However, his draw in the tenth round has placed his chances of winning the tournament in jeopardy. Meanwhile, World Champion D Gukesh has faced significant difficulties. He suffered three consecutive losses, including a defeat against 16-year-old Turkish Grandmaster Ediz Gurel. Although Gukesh drew his game against Divya Deshmukh, his chances of staying in contention are slim.
The FIDE Grand Swiss is a significant event in the chess calendar, with a total prize fund of $855,000, including $230,000 for the Women's Grand Swiss. The tournament follows an 11-round Swiss system, attracting 172 players from across the globe. As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on Vaishali as she aims to maintain her lead and secure a coveted spot in the Candidates Tournament.
