Overview

• The event runs September 3–16 in Uzbekistan, with the opening ceremony on September 3 and Round 1 on September 4.
• The top two finishers in both the Open and Women’s tournaments qualify for the 2026 Candidates, with prize funds of USD 625,000 and USD 230,000.
• India fields a record 15-player Open contingent, led by R Praggnanandhaa, who holds a substantial performance-category lead, alongside Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi and others.
• World champion D Gukesh enters despite being ineligible for the Candidates, while Women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh uses a wild card to play in the Open after already securing a Women’s Candidates berth.
• The field features stars such as Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja and Anish Giri, with Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand not participating as eligibility rules and other qualification routes shape the 11-round classical Swiss.