Overview

• World champion D Gukesh said he is playing to test himself in a rare elite Swiss and “prove” himself despite not needing qualification.
• India’s R Praggnanandhaa arrives with a strong FIDE Circuit lead for 2025 that is widely seen as putting him close to a Candidates spot.
• Women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh received an Open-section wildcard and joins a 15-player Indian Open contingent, with Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu and Vantika Agrawal leading India in the women’s field.
• The tournament runs September 4–15 as an 11-round classical Swiss with 172 players (116 Open, 56 Women), and the top two in each event qualify for the 2026 Candidates.
• Notable absentees include Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana, with a 30-game eligibility rule and alternate qualification paths affecting participation.