FIDE Grand Swiss 2025: Giri and Vaishali Make History in Samarkand
- Prakhar Bhatnagar
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand ended with a bang — a tournament full of drama, heartbreak, and unforgettable moments. Dutch star Anish Giri finally lifted his first Grand Swiss trophy, while India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu made history by becoming the first-ever player to win the event twice in a row. Both champions, along with Matthias Bluebaum and Kateryna Lagno, punched their tickets to the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
Anish Giri’s Long-Awaited Triumph
For years, Anish Giri has been considered one of the sharpest minds in chess, but this was the Grand Swiss title that had eluded him. In the final round, he delivered under pressure, defeating American Hans Niemann in what he called a “slow, grinding game.” That crucial win gave him 8/11 points, clear first place, and a cool $90,000 prize — not to mention his third Candidates appearance.
Speaking after his victory, Giri revealed a glimpse of his mindset:“There is this technique and... I saw myself win. Then I went a bit too far and started to think who will be in my team for the Candidates and I said I needed to stop at that point, as it was too far.”
That discipline and patience paid off. He avoided tiebreak chaos by finishing half a point ahead of the chasing pack.
The Nail-Biting Race for Second
The second Candidates spot was a battlefield in itself. Five players entered the last round with 7/10 points: Giri, Bluebaum, Firouzja, Keymer, and Niemann.
Matthias Bluebaum held Alireza Firouzja to a draw, and thanks to superior tiebreaks, he secured the golden ticket.
Firouzja had to settle for third.
Vincent Keymer suffered the toughest heartbreak — he was leading after Round 10 but couldn’t convert a better position against Arjun Erigaisi in the finale. That single missed chance dropped him to fourth.
Vaishali’s Historic Double
If Giri’s win was about perseverance, Vaishali Rameshbabu’s story was about resilience. With a calm final-round draw against former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi, she sealed 8/11 points and defended her Grand Swiss crown — the first player ever to win back-to-back editions.
Her road wasn’t easy. She tied with Kateryna Lagno, who had finished earlier on 8 points, but superior tiebreaks gave Vaishali the title. Afterward, she shared openly about her struggles:“I lost seven games in a row [at the Chennai Grand Masters], it was very hard. But in a way, that experience is the reason I won the Grand Swiss.”
With this win, Vaishali joins Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh as India’s three representatives in the Women’s Candidates 2026 — a proud milestone for Indian chess.
Indian Players: The Highs and Lows
Arjun Erigaisi was in the mix until the very end. He finished with 7/11 and a share of fifth, just missing qualification. Ironically, his final-round draw with Keymer both ended his own hopes and denied Keymer’s dream run.
Praggnanandhaa, the top seed, had a rough ride. After a promising start, a crucial loss to Niemann in Round 10 derailed his chances. He ended with 6 points, but his consistency on the FIDE Circuit still makes him a strong favorite for Candidates 2026.
World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju struggled too. With 6/11, this was labeled his “worst phase” since 2021. Still, he showed flashes of grit, including a 103-move marathon draw against Divya Deshmukh.
Speaking of Divya Deshmukh, the Women’s World Cup winner impressed in the Open section. Her heroic draw against Gukesh was a standout, along with victories over Velimir Ivic and Amin Basim. At just 18, she proved she belongs among the elite.
The Road Ahead: Candidates 2026
With Samarkand behind us, the chess world now looks to the 2026 Candidates Tournament (March 25 – May 1, 2026). The lineup is shaping up beautifully:
Qualified so far: Fabiano Caruana (FIDE Circuit 2024), Anish Giri (Grand Swiss winner), Matthias Bluebaum (Grand Swiss runner-up).
Still up for grabs: World Cup 2025 (3 spots), FIDE Circuit 2025 (1 spot), and rating qualification (1 spot, with Hikaru Nakamura currently leading).
For the women’s field, India shines bright with Humpy, Divya, and Vaishali already in, alongside Lagno. In our next post, we will discuss the qualification paths to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026.
Final Thoughts
The Grand Swiss 2025 had everything: a champion who finally claimed his due, a trailblazer rewriting history, and a new generation of Indian players pushing boundaries.
At ShareChess.com, we see these stories not just as results on a scoreboard but as milestones in the journey of modern chess. With Giri and Vaishali leading the headlines, and talents like Arjun, Praggnanandhaa, and Divya knocking on the door, the road to Candidates 2026 promises to be nothing short of spectacular.
