2026 Chess Olympiad Schedule in Samarkand: India Defends Double Titles, Uzbekistan Hosts with Rising Star Sindarov

In the context of the chess world being lively, the schedule for the 2026 Chess Olympiad has been officially announced, marking the first time the event returns to Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This is an opportunity for national teams to compete fiercely, with India continuing as the top contender to defend the double titles in both the Open and Women's sections. Uzbekistan, as the host, brings great hope thanks to young talent Javokhir Sindarov, who is on the path to becoming world champion. The schedule uses the Swiss round-robin system for 11 rounds, with a rest day midway after round 6 to allow teams recovery time. Notably, the final round will start earlier at 11 a.m. to suit the closing ceremony, creating a scientific and manageable schedule.