Final Round Drama at the Grand Swiss: Giri Triumphs, Vaishali Makes History

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The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss tournament in Samarkand concluded with an exciting final round. Anish Giri won the Open section with a score of 8/11, after a hard-fought game against Hans Niemann. In the Women’s event, Vaishali Rameshbabu and Kateryna Lagno finished with the same score, but Vaishali won the title thanks to a tiebreak.

Giri Seals Victory

Giri’s victory against Niemann earned him the championship title and a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. This is his third time qualifying for the tournament, and he also won a $90,000 prize.

Giri’s careful preparation and accuracy were key to winning the important match. After Niemann made a mistake on his 32nd move, Giri skillfully finished the game with a bishop endgame, remaining calm and focused. Later, Giri shared that he’d actually pictured himself winning the night before, and had to remind himself not to get ahead of himself and think about the next stage of the competition.

Matthias Bluebaum, the European Champion, secured the second qualifying spot by drawing with Alireza Firouzja, who ended up in third place. Vincent Keymer, who started the final round in first, wasn’t able to maintain his lead and fell to fourth.

Vaishali’s Historic Repeat

In the Women’s competition, Vaishali Rameshbabu and Kateryna Lagno both ended with a score of 8 out of 11. This result guaranteed both players a spot in the Candidates tournament. Vaishali qualified in first place due to a tiebreak, making her the first player ever to win the Grand Swiss tournament two years in a row – in either the open or women’s section.

Bibisara Assaubayeva had an opportunity to move into first place, but a lost game against Anna Muzychuk prevented it. She ended the tournament with 7.5 points out of 11, sharing a final score with Tan Zhongyi and Yuxin Song.

Key Moments

  • Giri defeated Niemann with precise play in the English Opening.
  • Bluebaum drew Firouzja, clinching the second Open qualifying spot.
  • Keymer missed a winning line against Erigaisi and slipped out of contention.
  • Vaishali showed accuracy against Tan Zhongyi, holding a difficult endgame to secure her title.
  • Lagno forced a quick draw with Ulviyya Fataliyeva to guarantee qualification.

Ceremony and Legacy

At the tournament’s closing ceremony in Samarkand, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich called this year’s Grand Swiss the most exciting and competitive one yet. He also noted the special significance of holding the event in Samarkand, a historic Silk Road city with a long tradition of chess.

The Grand Swiss tournament is known for being both highly competitive and full of surprises as players vie for a spot in the World Championship cycle. This year, players like Giri, Bluebaum, Vaishali, and Lagno earned their way to the Candidates Tournament, meaning the competition for the championship title is still very open.

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2025-09-16 21:01