Indian Chess Grandmasters Criticize Accommodation Issues at FIDE Olympiad 2026

Indian chess grandmasters Srinath Narayanan and Vidit Gujrathi have raised serious concerns regarding the accommodation arrangements at the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. After arriving at the venue, they reported long waits for room assignments, leading to disappointment over the event's organization. The Chess Olympiad, set to take place from September 15 to 27, is a prestigious competition featuring top players from around the world. Additionally, the event includes the symbolic Chess Olympiad Torch Ceremony, which celebrates the sport's global reach. As defending champions, India aims to retain its titles in both the open and women's categories.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 15, 2026, 21:08 IST

Concerns Raised by Indian Grandmasters

On Tuesday, Indian chess grandmasters Srinath Narayanan and Vidit Gujrathi voiced their frustrations regarding the accommodation arrangements at the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026, taking place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. They reported that upon their arrival, teams were left waiting for hours without room assignments. Srinath shared his experience on the social media platform X, stating, "Having a terrible experience at the @FIDE_chess 2026 Olympiad. The team landed 5 hours ago at Samarkand airport. The team still hasn’t been allotted rooms, with absolutely no clarity on when it’ll be allotted."

Disappointment Over First Impressions

Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi also expressed his dissatisfaction with the arrangements, describing it as a disappointing first impression of the event. He tweeted, "Very poor first impressions of the Samarkand, Uzbekistan Olympiad 2026. Still waiting."

Overview of the Chess Olympiad

The Chess Olympiad is recognized as the premier team competition in chess, featuring the world's top players who will compete in Samarkand from September 15 to 27.

Significance of the Chess Olympiad Torch Ceremony

Initiated by FIDE in 2022, the Chess Olympiad Torch Ceremony draws inspiration from the Olympic flame, aiming to celebrate the sport's global influence and generate excitement for the competition. Nitin Narang, President of the All India Chess Federation, remarked, "The Chess Olympiad Torch is a powerful symbol of how the game connects nations and generations. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi began this tradition in India in 2022, and it is special to see the flame now travel from India, the game’s birthplace, to Uzbekistan, two nations with a deep and growing chess culture. We wish Javokhir Sindarov and Uzbekistan the very best as Samarkand prepares to welcome the chess world."

India as Defending Champions

India enters the tournament as the defending champion in both the open and women's categories, and they are considered favorites to retain their titles.