Chess Olympiad 2026: the Swiss women’s team in Samarkand
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk leads the Swiss women. Follow all four boards live, round by round.
Tournament timeline
Round by round, in the order the games were played: the match, the four Swiss games with their analysis, and a short summary at the end of each day.
- Round 1 · Switzerland vs Thailand 4 : 0
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16 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 1-0 WIM Mariia Manko against WFM Sarocha Chuemsakul A Scotch with White over sixty-two moves, decided on move 49 when only three moves were legal.
- Board 2 0-1 WIM Sofiia Hryzlova against Sirin Bootsumran A Queen’s Indian with Black: 14.Bf1 hands over the c4 pawn, and two connected passed pawns finish the game.
- Board 3 1-0 WGM Ghazal Hakimifard against Natrada Kaewwattha A Ruy Lopez with White: a knight walks to f5 in four moves, and the a6 rook decides it on f6 on move 29.
- Board 4 0-1 WIM Camille De Seroux against Purichaya Chinkulkitniwat A Nimzowitsch Defence with Black: a knight retreats with 11...Nb8 and captures on f2 ten moves later.
The day in brief
Round 1: 4 to 0 against Thailand
The Swiss women opened the Olympiad with a 4 to 0 win over Thailand. WIM Mariia Manko, WIM Sofiia Hryzlova, WGM Ghazal Hakimifard and WIM Camille De Seroux all won their boards.
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk sat the opening round out. The match was played on table 17: Switzerland are seeded 17th, Thailand 111th.
- Round 2 · Switzerland vs Egypt 4 : 0
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17 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 0-1 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk against WGM Shahenda Wafa A Richter-Rauzer with Black: 20...Rh5 builds the threat against g2, and 22.Rdg1 decides the game.
- Board 2 1-0 WIM Sofiia Hryzlova against WIM Jana Mohamed Zaki A French Defence with White: 11.h3 gives the centre away, 17...g4 hands it back, and 21.Bxd6+ finds the only order.
- Board 3 0-1 WGM Ghazal Hakimifard against WCM Dema Alaa An Alapin with Black: 10...Nxc3 leaves the isolated c3 pawn behind, and 37...Bb4 takes the last guard off the white king.
- Board 4 1-0 WIM Camille De Seroux against WIM Joy Romany A Ruy Lopez with White: in mutual time trouble 32.Rxc7 is left on the board, and 35...a4 vacates the square where the rook attacks the queen.
The day in brief
Round 2: 4 to 0 against Egypt
The second round finished 4 to 0 as well, this time against Egypt. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk came into the team on board one with Black against WGM Shahenda Wafa and won.
WIM Sofiia Hryzlova, WGM Ghazal Hakimifard and WIM Camille De Seroux took the other three boards. WIM Mariia Manko sat out. After two rounds Switzerland had 8 out of 8 board points.
- Round 3 · Switzerland vs Estonia 2 : 2
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18 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 ½-½ GM Alexandra Kosteniuk against IM Mai Narva A Najdorf with White: 10.f5 wins the space, 11.O-O gives it back, and 42.c5 saves the half point.
- Board 2 0-1 WIM Mariia Manko against WIM Margareth Olde An endgame with Black: between moves 34 and 40, 34...exf4 was the best move five times over and never came.
- Board 3 1-0 WGM Ghazal Hakimifard against WFM Sofia Blokhin A Dragon with White: 21...cxd5 takes the guard off b5, and 36.Kb1 and 37.Ka1 are each the only move that holds.
- Board 4 ½-½ WIM Camille De Seroux against WCM Grete Olde A delayed Alapin with Black: 33...Qc6 would have won, the clock read forty seconds, and the rook on c3 saved the draw.
The day in brief
Round 3: 2 to 2 against Estonia
Against Estonia on table 16 came the first dropped points: 2 to 2. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk drew on board one with White against IM Mai Narva, and WIM Camille De Seroux split the point on board four with WCM Grete Olde.
WGM Ghazal Hakimifard won on board three against WFM Sofia Blokhin, WIM Mariia Manko lost on board two to WIM Margareth Olde. After three rounds Switzerland stood on 5 match points and 10 board points.
- Round 4 · Switzerland vs Czech Republic 3 : 1
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19 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 ½-½ GM Alexandra Kosteniuk against WGM Joanna Worek A Queen’s Pawn game with Black: 8.g4 attacks two pieces, 8...fxe5 counts correctly, and 43.d5 hands the half point back.
- Board 2 1-0 WIM Mariia Manko against WIM Natasa Richterova An Open Catalan with White: 11.Qxb7 fetches the gambit pawn back, and after 36...Be8 the rook takes the open file with 37.Re4.
- Board 3 0-1 WIM Sofiia Hryzlova against WFM Anna Lhotska A Najdorf with Black in the women’s event: 8...h5 outlaws the storm, 20...hxg3 punishes it.
- Board 4 ½-½ WIM Camille De Seroux against WFM Lucie Rybackova A Caro-Kann with White: 39...Ke5 gives up the e4 pawn, and 46.Kc3 is the only move in the bishop against knight ending.
The day in brief
Round 4: 3 to 1 against the Czech Republic
After the draw against Estonia the Swiss women won the fourth round 3 to 1 against the Czech Republic on table 13. WIM Mariia Manko won on board two with White against WIM Natasa Richterova, WIM Sofiia Hryzlova on board three with Black against WFM Anna Lhotska.
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk drew on board one with Black against WGM Joanna Worek, WIM Camille De Seroux on board four against WFM Lucie Rybackova. WGM Ghazal Hakimifard sat out. After four rounds Switzerland stood on 7 match points and 13 board points.
- Round 5 · Switzerland vs Netherlands 2 : 2
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20 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 1-0 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk against IM Eline Roebers A Caro-Kann with Black: 22...Be7 restores the balance, and 23...Bb5 invites the white queen home from the edge.
- Board 2 1-0 WIM Mariia Manko against GM Zhaoqin Peng A Catalan with White: 20.Nxf7 counts the liquidation to the end, and 22.Bxb8 takes the knight that never moved.
- Board 3 1-0 WIM Sofiia Hryzlova against WGM Machteld van Foreest An English Opening with Black: 16...Nxf2 wins rook and two pawns for two knights, and in the end the bishop on c4 pins the f7 pawn.
- Board 4 1-0 WGM Ghazal Hakimifard against WIM Robin Duson A Ruy Lopez Exchange with White: 15.Nxd6+ takes the bishop first, and 24...Kb7 leaves the d6 pawn without a guard.
The day in brief
Round 5: 2 to 2 against the Netherlands
Against the Netherlands, seeded 12th, the fifth round on table 6 ended 2 to 2, and not one board was drawn. Both Swiss wins came with White: WIM Mariia Manko beat GM Peng Zhaoqin on board two, WGM Ghazal Hakimifard beat WIM Robin Duson on board four.
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk lost on board one with Black to IM Eline Roebers, WIM Sofiia Hryzlova on board three to WGM Machteld van Foreest. WIM Camille De Seroux sat out. After five rounds Switzerland stood on 8 match points and 15 board points.
- Round 6 · Switzerland vs Italy 3 : 1
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21 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 ½-½ GM Alexandra Kosteniuk against IM Marina Brunello A Moscow Variation with White: 22.Bxh6 opens the black king, and 30.Kh2 instead of 30.Nd5 hands the won position back.
- Board 2 0-1 WIM Mariia Manko against IM Olga Zimina A London System with Black: 14...Kg7 is one of two legal moves, and in White’s time trouble 29.Ng3 takes the guard off the f4 pawn.
- Board 3 ½-½ WIM Sofiia Hryzlova against WIM Tea Gueci A Taimanov Sicilian with White: the knight stands on a4 from move 13 to move 32, and 38.Nd6 clears away the last passed pawn.
- Board 4 0-1 WGM Ghazal Hakimifard against WFM Kamilla Rubinshtein A Kan Sicilian with Black: 20.f5 leaves the c4 pawn hanging, and 33...Bc6 attacks both white knights at once.
The day in brief
Round 6: 3 to 1 against Italy
The Swiss women beat Italy 3 to 1 on table 13, and both wins came with Black: WIM Mariia Manko won on board two against IM Olga Zimina, WGM Ghazal Hakimifard on board four against WFM Kamilla Rubinshtein.
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk drew on board one with White against IM Marina Brunello, WIM Sofiia Hryzlova on board three against WIM Tea Gueci. WIM Camille De Seroux sat out. After six rounds Switzerland stand on 10 match points and 18 board points.
- Round 7 · Switzerland vs United States 1 : 3
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23 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 1-0 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk against IM Carissa Yip A Petroff with Black: 13...O-O-O is a move almost nobody finds, 24.e6 wins a rook and hands the game back, and 43...f3 comes three moves too late.
- Board 2 ½-½ WIM Mariia Manko against GM Irina Krush A Queen’s Gambit Accepted with White: 7.e4 gives a pawn away, two declined queen trades keep the pressure, and 20.Bxg7 fetches it back.
- Board 3 1-0 WGM Ghazal Hakimifard against IM Tatev Abrahamyan A Kan Sicilian with Black: 17...Na4 collects the b2 pawn, and 19...Nd7 takes the b2 knight’s way home away.
- Board 4 ½-½ WIM Camille De Seroux against IM Rose Atwell A French Defence with White: 10.b4 gives two pawns away, 19.Rxb7 fetches them back, and 27.Rxa7 takes the one pawn too many.
The day in brief
Round 7: 1 to 3 against the USA
On table 8 against the USA, seeded 5th, the Swiss women lost the seventh round 1 to 3. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk lost on board one against IM Carissa Yip, WGM Ghazal Hakimifard on board three against IM Tatev Abrahamyan.
The two draws came from WIM Mariia Manko on board two against GM Irina Krush and WIM Camille De Seroux on board four against IM Rose Atwell. WIM Sofiia Hryzlova sat the round out. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.
- Round 8 · Switzerland vs Indonesia 1.5 : 2.5
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24 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 0-1 WIM Mariia Manko against WIM Laysa Latifah A Rossolimo with Black: 14.Bxh7+ keeps a pawn, 29...axb5?? gives most of it back, and 30.b4?? brings the full point on board 1.
- Board 2 0-1 WIM Sofiia Hryzlova against WIM Shafira Devi Herfesa An English Opening with White: 16.Na4?! invites 16...cxd4, 25.Bf4?? leaves 25.fxg6 on the board, and in time trouble 35.Qxe4?? and 36.Qxb7?? hand the point away.
- Board 3 ½-½ WGM Ghazal Hakimifard against WIM Ummi Fisabilillah An Alapin with Black: 14...g6 is the inaccuracy, 15.h4 goes unfound by the opponent, and a same-colour bishop endgame shares the point.
- Board 4 0-1 WIM Camille De Seroux against WIM Chelsie Monica Ignesias Sihite A Ruy Lopez Anderssen with White: 18.Bd1?! instead of 18.d4 gives up the centre, 36.Nd2?? with forty seconds throws away the draw, and 49.Rc5?? instead of 49.e6 lets the last chance slip.
The day in brief
Round 8: 1.5 to 2.5 against Indonesia
On table 12 against Indonesia, seeded 35th, the Swiss women lost the eighth round 1.5 to 2.5. WIM Mariia Manko won on board one against WIM Laysa Latifah, WGM Ghazal Hakimifard drew on board three against WIM Ummi Fisabilillah.
WIM Sofiia Hryzlova lost on board two against WIM Shafira Devi Herfesa, WIM Camille De Seroux on board four against WIM Chelsie Monica Ignesias Sihite. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk sat the round out. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.
- Round 9 · Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 : 1
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25 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 1-0 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk against WFM Milana Babic A Caro-Kann with White: six best moves from 15.f4 to 20.Bf2, then 24.Bg3 breaks the advantage, and 34...b5 with thirty-two seconds left clears the road for the h pawn.
- Board 1 1-0 WIM Sofiia Hryzlova against WFM Sara Jacimovic A King’s Indian Attack with White: 4.b4 costs eight minutes with nothing to show, 19.Na5 starts the walk via b7 and c5, and 35.Rxe6 wins the rook for a pawn.
- Board 2 1-0 WIM Mariia Manko against WFM Masa Maksimovic A Kalashnikov with Black: 19...Re5 leaves the a5 pawn standing, 30...Kg8 misses 30...Bxg2, and twelve minutes past the time control 41...Qf7 takes the queen off the e4 pawn.
- Board 2 0-1 WIM Camille De Seroux against Sofija Mimic A Taimanov Sicilian with Black: 22...Bd8?! misses 22...e5, 25.Ndxb5?? gives the piece away, and the closing chain from Nd5 to Qd5+ holds every move under two minutes.
The day in brief
Round 9: 3 to 1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina
On table 18 the Swiss women won the ninth round 3 to 1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, seeded 49th. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk won on board one with White against WFM Milana Babic, WIM Sofiia Hryzlova on board three with White against WFM Sara Jacimovic.
WIM Camille De Seroux won on board four with Black against Sofija Mimic. The only loss came on board two, where WIM Mariia Manko went down with Black against WFM Masa Maksimovic. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.
- Round 10 · Switzerland vs Austria 2 : 2
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26 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 ½-½ GM Alexandra Kosteniuk against IM Olga Badelka A Queen’s Pawn game with Black: 12...Bc2 and 13...e5 invite White’s central break, 32.Re8?? with under a minute leaves the c6 knight undefended, and 32...f5 levels the game.
- Board 2 0-1 WIM Sofiia Hryzlova against WFM Chiara Polterauer A Najdorf with Black, Adams Attack: 19...e4 after twenty minutes hands the small edge back, 22...Bxb2 and 24...Bc3 fetch a pawn, and 32.f4 puts both bishop and rook in the fire at once.
- Board 2 0-1 WIM Mariia Manko against WIM Jasmin-Denise Schloffer A Caro-Kann Exchange with White: an advantage builds up to move 21, 22.Neg5?! and 23.Qd3?? leave the d4-d5 break twice, and in time trouble 35.Be5?? loses the game.
- Board 4 ½-½ WGM Ghazal Hakimifard against WFM Emilia Deak-Sala A Sicilian Kupreichik with White: 22.Bf2?! gives the half pawn back, 25.Na2?! opens the wrong wing, and 47...Rb8?? in eight seconds throws away 47...f5 and the win.
The day in brief
Round 10: 2 to 2 against Austria
The tenth round against Austria ended 2 to 2. WIM Sofiia Hryzlova won on board three with Black against WFM Chiara Polterauer, WIM Mariia Manko lost on board two with White against WIM Jasmin-Denise Schloffer.
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk drew on board one with Black against IM Olga Badelka, WGM Ghazal Hakimifard on board four with White against WFM Emilia Deak-Sala. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.
- Round 11 · Switzerland vs Peru 2.5 : 1.5
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27 September 2026 11:00 Samarkand · 08:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
- Board 1 1-0 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk against IM Deysi Cori T. A Classical French with White: 17...h6 is the tactical error, 18.Rc1 after fifteen minutes leaves 18.Bxb4 on the board twice in a row, and 30.Bxh6 uses the pin on the g7 pawn.
- Board 2 0-1 WIM Sofiia Hryzlova against WIM Maria Teresa Jimenez Salas A Najdorf with Black, English Attack: 32.d7? goes one square too far, 33...Qc7?? after nine minutes hands the winning position away, 38.Rd4? gives it back, and 44.d8=Q?? walks into the bishop on g5.
- Board 3 ½-½ WGM Ghazal Hakimifard against FM Fiorella Contreras Huaman A Caro-Kann Tartakower with White: 13.Qg3? misses 13.Nf4, 35.Qb5?? throws the winning position away, and the opponent’s 57...Kf3?? opens the perpetual that saves the half point.
- Board 4 1-0 WIM Camille De Seroux against Flor De Maria Zarate Oyague A Nimzo-Indian Kmoch with Black: 19...Kh8 waits after two long thinks, 20.f5 is missed by the opponent, and 23...Nc7 instead of 23...exf4 pulls the knight off the g4 to e6 diagonal.
The day in brief
Round 11: 2.5 to 1.5 against Peru
The Swiss women won the final round 2.5 to 1.5 against Peru. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk won on board one with White against IM Deysi Cori T., WIM Sofiia Hryzlova on board two with Black against WIM Maria Teresa Jimenez Salas.
WGM Ghazal Hakimifard drew on board three with White against FM Fiorella Contreras Huaman, WIM Camille De Seroux lost on board four with Black against Flor De Maria Zarate Oyague. WIM Mariia Manko sat the final round out. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.
Kickoff: the Swiss women in Samarkand
A record women’s field, Switzerland seeded 17th and a former World Champion on board one — the overview before the biggest team event in chess history.
The biggest women’s event in Olympiad history
From 16 September 2026, 191 teams compete in the women’s event in Samarkand, alongside 207 teams from 205 federations in the Open. That makes 398 teams in total — more than ever before and well above the previous record of 380 teams in Budapest 2024, where India took gold in both the Open and the women’s event.
For the first time in the event’s nearly hundred-year history, Central Asia is the host. Eleven rounds are played at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre — the same playing days as the Open, which we follow round by round with GM Sebastian Bogner.
- 191
- Teams in the women’s event
- 398
- Teams in total
- 380
- Old record (Budapest 2024)
- 11
- Rounds
The Swiss women are aiming for the top ten
Switzerland start as the 17th seed out of 191 teams and are aiming for the top ten. The team is led by former Women’s World Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, who switched to the Swiss federation in 2023. Behind her play WIM Mariia Manko, WIM Sofiia Hryzlova, WGM Ghazal Hakimifard and WIM Camille De Seroux.
WIM Gundula Heinatz Bürki is the captain, GM Markus Ragger travels with the team as coach. Four of the five play every round, and who is fielded is decided shortly before play. All four boards are live here, round by round.
- #17
- Women’s seed
- 2495
- Alexandra Kosteniuk’s rating
- Top 10
- The team’s goal
- 5
- Players on the squad
The Chess Olympiad 2026, in brief
- When and where is the Chess Olympiad 2026?
- The 46th Chess Olympiad runs from 16 to 27 September 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
- Who is playing on the Swiss women's team?
- GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, WIM Mariia Manko, WIM Sofiia Hryzlova, WGM Ghazal Hakimifard and WIM Camille De Seroux.
- How can I follow the games live?
- Every game is broadcast live on Lichess, and we annotate each Swiss game round by round right here.
- Where do I find the results and standings?
- The official standings are on Chess-Results; our own round-by-round timeline has every Swiss result and every annotated game.