Two of India’s brightest chess talents, Arjun Erigaisi and reigning world champion D Gukesh, are set to headline the upcoming FIDE Grand Swiss tournament, where they are seeded as the top two players. This pivotal event, scheduled from September 3 to 16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, carries an enhanced prize purse and serves as a crucial qualifier for the prestigious 2026 Candidates tournament. The stakes are high, as the top two finishers in both the Open and Women’s sections will secure their berths in the Candidates, which ultimately determines the challenger for the world champion title.