Indian Chess Teams Face Hotel Delay Ahead of 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand
Indian chess teams, including defending champions, faced significant hotel delays upon arrival in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026. Players were left without rooms for hours, prompting sharp criticism over alleged local organising committee failures regarding reservations.
Indian chess teams, including the reigning champions in both the Open and Women's sections, encountered a chaotic start to their 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026 campaign in Samarkand today, September 15, 2026, as several players were left without hotel accommodation for hours after their arrival. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from team officials and players, marring the initial impressions of the host city. Gukesh vs Javokhir Sindarov: Magnus Carlsen Shares Insight On FIDE World Chess Championship 2026 Match.
Srinath Narayanan Shares Frustration Over Hotel Delays in Samarkand
Vidit Gujrathi Also Expressed Disappointment Over the Initial Experience.
The entire Indian contingent, which landed at Samarkand airport, faced delays in receiving their room allocations at the designated 'Silk Road by Minyoun' hotel. Men's team captain Srinath Narayanan confirmed the frustrating situation, stating, “We were told that the hotel was overbooked and the reservation wasn't sent by LOC to the hotel.” Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, a member of the Open team, also took to social media platform X, expressing his displeasure: “Very poor first impressions of the Samarkand, Uzbekistan Olympiad 2026. Still waiting.”
Organiser's Oversight Cited
The root cause of the problem has been attributed to an alleged oversight by the local organising committee (LOC), which reportedly failed to send reservation details to the hotel. This lapse left numerous players in limbo, a highly undesirable start for a major international event attracting nearly 2,000 participants from across the globe. The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has swiftly intervened, with President Nitin Narang coordinating directly with the LOC and FIDE, while Head of Delegation Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte is on the ground assisting the team.
The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026 at a Glance
The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, a flagship event organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), officially begins today, September 15, 2026, with the opening ceremony and technical meetings. The competition rounds are scheduled from September 16 to 27, 2026, with a rest day on September 22. The main venue for all events is the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand.
India's Title Defence
India arrives in Samarkand as the defending champions in both the Open and Women's sections, following their historic triumphs at the 2024 Budapest Olympiad. World Champion D Gukesh Shuts Down Hater with Epic Response; Check Viral Reply.
Indian Open Team (Average Rating: 2735):
| Board | Player | Rating (August 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arjun Erigaisi | 2759 |
| 2 | R. Praggnanandhaa | 2750 |
| 3 | Nihal Sarin | 2718 |
| 4 | Gukesh Dommaraju | 2703 |
| Reserve | Vidit Gujrathi | 2697 |
| Captain | Srinath Narayanan |
Indian Women's Team (Average Rating: 2476):
| Board | Player | Rating (August 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Humpy Koneru | 2524 |
| 2 | Divya Deshmukh | 2490 |
| 3 | Vaishali Rameshbabu | 2489 |
| 4 | Vantika Agrawal | 2399 |
| Reserve | Savitha Shri B | 2375 |
| Captain | Swayams Mishra |
The initial accommodation setback is an unwelcome distraction for the Indian teams, who are looking to make history by defending their double titles. Resolving these logistical issues promptly will be crucial for the players to focus on their formidable challenge ahead in Samarkand. The chess world will be watching closely as the tournament officially kicks off tomorrow, September 16, 2026, with the first round of games.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2026 05:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).