Chess Olympiad 2026: India Defends Crown in Samarkand, Gukesh and Sindarov to Rematch Later

When the schedule for the 2026 Chess Olympiad was announced, one small detail caught my attention: the final round will start at 11 a.m. instead of the usual 3 p.m. To me, that is not just an administrative adjustment – it shows the organizers have calculated to fit the closing ceremony, and it is a reminder that even the smallest details can affect the outcome. The 46th Chess Olympiad will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 1 to 14, 2026. It is the biggest team event in chess, with two sections: Open and Women. India is the defending champion in both sections after winning double gold in Budapest 2026. The schedule consists of 11 rounds in the Swiss system, with a rest day after round 6. India arrives in Samarkand with an extremely strong lineup. In the Open section, they have world champion Gukesh D, along with Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa – who just dethroned Erigaisi as India's No. 1 – Nihal Sarin, and Vidit Gujrathi. The women's team includes Humpy Koneru, Divya Deshmukh, Vaishali R, Vantika Agrawal, and Savitha Shri. Meanwhile, host Uzbekistan has Javokhir Sindarov, who will challenge Gukesh in the World Championship match later this year. The presence of both in Samarkand adds an extra layer of drama. Many see India as the top favorite, but I think the pressure of defending the title away from home is a difficult puzzle. Six consecutive rounds at the start can wear down physical condition, and Sindarov playing on home soil could create surprises. I believe in diagrams, but I believe more in the spaces between diagrams – and the space here is the psychology of young players under enormous pressure. The 2026 Olympiad promises to be a memorable event, not only for the chess but also for the Gukesh–Sindarov story. When the pieces move on the board in Samarkand, we will see whether India can hold its throne, or Uzbekistan will shock on home ground. The person standing at the edge of the field sees the whole match, not just what is inside the goal – and I will be there, recording every move. Pushed to the corridor at the 2026 AFC Cup, I learned to read the game from what others left behind. In Samarkand, I will do the same.