These top chess players did not qualify for the Grand Swiss 2025

The FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2025 is taking place September 3 – September 16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It will be an 11-round Swiss-system tournament and forms part of the qualification cycle for the World Chess Championship 2026. The winner and runner-up of the tournament will earn the right to play in the Candidates Tournament 2026.

FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2025 is in the Top Chess Events Calendar for the year 2025 and also in the Asia Chess Calendar. For a complete list of events visit the main page of The Chess Calendar

There will be a total of 114 participants at the FIDE Grand Swiss. The invited players are the Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun, four Continental spots, four nominated by the FIDE President, five invited by the organizers, and 100 players who qualify by rating. However, only players who played at least 30 rated games counted in any of the 12 standard rating periods from December 2023 to November 2024 are eligible. This leaves a large group of top players out, including Carlsen, Anand, Le Quang Liem, Topalov, Svidler, Radjabov, etc. (see the full list below)

Players not eligible for Grand Swiss due to game requirement

The only way players on this list can participate in the Grand Swiss 2025 in Samarkand is if they are nominated by the FIDE President or invited by the organizers, or via the following replacement rules.

Grand Swiss Qualification Replacement Rules

• Track A (Article 2.1) Declinations
  If any of the 100 players qualified by Track A (Article 2.1) declines to participate, the unallocated spot goes to the next non-qualifying player from Track A (Article 2.1).
• Women’s World Champion Declination
  If the Women’s World Champion declines to participate, her place goes to the Vice Women’s World Champion. If the Vice Women’s World Champion declines to participate, for all further replacements Track A (Article 2.1) applies for this purpose.
• Limit on Automatic Replacements
  The automatic replacements by Track A are in force till 30th reserve player, after which players’ replacement and/or playing spots filling shall be subject to GSC decision.
• Nominated Players Declining
  If any of the players nominated by FIDE President/Continental Presidents decline to participate, the FIDE President/respective Continental President shall nominate another player.

Players qualified for the Grand Swiss 2025 via rating