Chess Olympiad 2026: the Swiss team in Samarkand

1. 1 Round 1 · Switzerland vs Burundi 3.5 : 0.5 chevron_right 16 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
   • Board 1 ½-½ GM Sebastian Bogner against IM Ezra Paul Chambers A draw with Black, carried by two only moves and a precisely calculated liquidation.
   • Board 2 1-0 GM Peng Li Min against Wilfried Ntamatungiro A king attack in 29 moves, decided by the quiet 21.Qh3.
   • Board 3 0-1 IM Fabian Bänziger against Mutabazi Hugues The king stays in the centre, the g-file opens, and 26...Rg2 ends the game.
   • Board 4 1-0 FM Colin Federer against Rukundo Joe Stephane Queenside space, one missed break, and the breakthrough with 30.f5.

   The day in brief

   Round 1: 3.5 to 0.5 against Burundi

   Switzerland opened the Olympiad in Samarkand with a 3.5 to 0.5 win over Burundi. GM Sebastian Bogner drew on board one with Black against IM Ezra Paul Chambers, never worse in the Caro-Kann from move 13 onwards.

   The other three boards went to Switzerland: GM Peng Li Min, IM Fabian Bänziger and FM Colin Federer all won. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

2. 2 Round 2 · Switzerland vs Kosovo 3.5 : 0.5 chevron_right 17 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
   • Board 1 1-0 GM Sebastian Bogner against IM Nderim Saraci A Catalan, thirty moves of patience, and an ending where bishop and king are faster.
   • Board 2 ½-½ GM Nico Georgiadis against FM Endrit Uruci A Ruy Lopez into the ending: a stubborn half point with Black against a well prepared opponent.
   • Board 3 1-0 GM Peng Li Min against FM Muhamet Asllani A quiet Alapin, an exchange at the right moment, and a technically clean ending.
   • Board 4 0-1 FM Colin Federer against CM Korab Saraci Meeting the Alapin with 5...g5, winning material and driving it home in the ending.

   The day in brief

   Round 2: 3.5 to 0.5 against Kosovo

   Switzerland won the second round 3.5 to 0.5 as well, this time against Kosovo. GM Sebastian Bogner won on board one with White against IM Nderim Saraci: a Catalan without a single combination, decided only after 67 moves in a rook and bishop ending.

   GM Peng Li Min and FM Colin Federer won too, GM Nico Georgiadis drew on board two. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

3. 3 Round 3 · Switzerland vs Azerbaijan 1 : 3 chevron_right 18 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
   • Board 1 0-1 GM Sebastian Bogner against GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov A Ruy Lopez against the world elite: one passed pawn on a4 and twenty-five moves it dictates.
   • Board 2 1-0 GM Nico Georgiadis against GM Aydin Suleymanli A Nimzo-Indian, fifteen faultless moves, and then a knight move that forgets the f5 square.
   • Board 3 ½-½ GM Peng Li Min against GM Mahammad Muradli The Poisoned Pawn against 2653: a trap sidestepped and the only move 33.Kh1.
   • Board 4 ½-½ IM Fabian Bänziger against GM Rauf Mamedov Playing 13...Bh2+, a move hardly anyone finds, and holding against 2631.

   The day in brief

   Round 3: 1 to 3 against Azerbaijan

   On the top boards Azerbaijan was a size too big: Switzerland lost the third round 1 to 3. GM Sebastian Bogner went down on board one with White against GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, rated 2720. In the Ruy Lopez he was fine for twenty moves, then a black passed pawn on the a-file decided the game and became a queen on move 39.

   The Swiss point came from two draws against clearly higher rated grandmasters: GM Peng Li Min held in the Poisoned Pawn against GM Mahammad Muradli, IM Fabian Bänziger with Black against GM Rauf Mamedov. GM Nico Georgiadis lost on board two to GM Aydin Suleymanli. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

4. 4 Round 4 · Switzerland vs Costa Rica 2.5 : 1.5 chevron_right 19 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
   • Board 1 ½-½ GM Sebastian Bogner against IM Leonardo Valdes Romero Playing Black for the a-file, twice declining the capture, and ending by repetition.
   • Board 2 1-0 GM Nico Georgiadis against IM Emmanuel Jimenez Garcia A Maróczy Bind, a retreat to d1, and the only rook move that keeps the win: 26.Rb3.
   • Board 3 ½-½ IM Fabian Bänziger against IM Sebastian Mihajlov A Najdorf, two chances let go, and at the end a rook sacrifice that leads to perpetual check.
   • Board 4 ½-½ FM Colin Federer against FM David Alejandro Cabezas Solano A Rossolimo, a knight sacrifice over nine forced moves, and three extra pawns that are not enough.

   The day in brief

   Round 4: 2.5 to 1.5 against Costa Rica

   Switzerland answered the defeat against Azerbaijan and won the fourth round 2.5 to 1.5 against Costa Rica. The point came from GM Nico Georgiadis on board two with White against IM Emmanuel Jimenez Garcia: a Maróczy Bind against the Accelerated Dragon in which the black king stayed in the centre and had to resign on move 30.

   GM Sebastian Bogner drew on board one with Black against IM Leonardo Valdes Romero by repetition, IM Fabian Bänziger saved the half point on board three with a rook sacrifice and perpetual check, and FM Colin Federer held a rook ending on board four. GM Peng Li Min sat the round out. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

5. 5 Round 5 · Switzerland vs Scotland 3 : 1 chevron_right 20 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
   • Board 1 1-0 GM Sebastian Bogner against IM Frederick Waldhausen Gordon A French: a pawn and a half down, then 18.d5, 20.Qe5 and a passed pawn on a2 that never gets taken.
   • Board 2 ½-½ GM Nico Georgiadis against IM Andrew N Greet An English: the bishop trade on g2, a check that forces f3, and an advantage that vanishes with 22...Kh8.
   • Board 3 1-0 GM Peng Li Min against FM Rishi Vijayakumar A Scotch: one knight move takes the queen off, and the right bishop lands on d5.
   • Board 4 ½-½ IM Fabian Bänziger against FM Murad Abdulla A Najdorf against a rook move: the wing attack answered in the centre and the repetition accepted.

   The day in brief

   Round 5: 3 to 1 against Scotland

   Switzerland won the fifth round 3 to 1 against Scotland. GM Sebastian Bogner won on board one with White against IM Frederick Waldhausen Gordon, though not by the direct route: in the French, Burn Variation, he was worse after 16 moves, found his way back through a pawn sacrifice in the centre and won after 59 moves.

   GM Peng Li Min won on board three with White against FM Rishi Vijayakumar, a rook ending with three pawns against none. GM Nico Georgiadis drew on board two against IM Andrew Greet, IM Fabian Bänziger on board four against FM Murad Abdulla by repetition. FM Colin Federer sat the round out. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

6. 6 Round 6 · Switzerland vs Türkiye 1 : 3 chevron_right 21 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
   • Board 1 1-0 GM Sebastian Bogner against GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus A Semi-Tarrasch against 2716: the only move twice, two extra pawns on move 50, and three minutes that were not enough.
   • Board 2 ½-½ GM Nico Georgiadis against GM Ediz Gurel A Najdorf: an extra pawn that costs the bishop pair, a bishop sacrifice on h3, and on move 55 the rook to the wrong square.
   • Board 3 ½-½ GM Peng Li Min against GM Isik Can A Four Knights: a queen trade declined, a pawn and a half down, and 27...Qe2, the only move that holds.
   • Board 4 0-1 FM Colin Federer against GM Emre Can A Caro-Kann: an attack that vanishes with 24.Bg5, and two legal moves on move 38, one of which draws.

   The day in brief

   Round 6: 1 to 3 against Türkiye

   Against Türkiye, seeded 14th, Switzerland lost the sixth round 1 to 3, and the hardest result came on board one. GM Sebastian Bogner, with Black against GM Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş, rated 2716, was the better player for fifty moves and stood two pawns up and winning, with a little over three minutes on his clock. Two moves later the game was lost.

   GM Nico Georgiadis drew on board two with White against GM Ediz Gurel, rated 2636, after 71 moves, and GM Peng Li Min held on board three with Black against GM Isik Can. FM Colin Federer stood clearly better twice on board four against GM Emre Can and still lost. IM Fabian Bänziger sat the round out. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

7. videocam The free day: the full interview Rest day 22 September 2026 5:38

   Between the defeat against Türkiye and the match against Malaysia there was a free day. We used it to sit down with Sebastian Bogner: the arrival in Samarkand, the mood after losing 1-3, his own showing on board one, and what is still on the table for the team.

   The second half is about the AI coach that writes the reports on these pages: whether a thing like that replaces the trainer, what chess loses to it and what it does not.

   Arrival and acclimatisation, the mood after losing 1-3 to Türkiye, board one, the team goal, the cold — and the AI coach at the end.

8. 7 Round 7 · Switzerland vs Malaysia 2 : 2 chevron_right 23 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
   • Board 1 ½-½ GM Sebastian Bogner against IM Jun Ying Tan A Richter-Rauzer: 17.g4 one move too early, the buy-back with 26.e6, and 37.Bb3 instead of 37.Re4 in the scramble.
   • Board 1 ½-½ GM Javokhir Sindarov against GM Wei Yi A Taimanov Sicilian: a piece offered on move 16, a pin only a rook sacrifice breaks, and on move 40 the right one of two captures.
   • Board 1 1-0 GM Gukesh D against GM Daniel Howard Fernandez A French Defence: a bishop trade that costs three tempi, the missed 29.Nxe6, and on move 49 a king that leaves the pawn alone.
   • Board 2 ½-½ GM Nico Georgiadis against IM Kim Yew Chan A Catalan: a knight for three pawns, a double attack on move 19, and 21...c5, the only move that holds.
   • Board 3 1-0 IM Fabian Bänziger against FM Zhuo Ren Lim A Najdorf: a rook that takes the fourth rank, 18.h4 instead of 18.h3, and the king move 20.Kg2 that makes the attack possible.
   • Board 4 1-0 FM Colin Federer against CM Yi Chen Chow A Najdorf: 13...Bh6, twenty-eight minutes for a rook move, and a knight that goes to e5 thirty-two seconds before the time control.

   The day in brief

   Round 7: 2 to 2 against Malaysia

   Against Malaysia, seeded 67th, Switzerland got no further than 2 to 2 in the seventh round. GM Sebastian Bogner drew on board one with White against IM Jun Ying Tan, GM Nico Georgiadis on board two against IM Kim Yew Chan.

   IM Fabian Bänziger won on board three against FM Zhuo Ren Lim, FM Colin Federer lost on board four against CM Yi Chen Chow. GM Peng Li Min sat the round out. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

9. 8 Round 8 · Switzerland vs Uzbekistan 3 3 : 1 chevron_right 24 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
   • Board 1 0-1 GM Sebastian Bogner against IM Saidakbar Saydaliev An English: 12...Nb8 to regroup, 17.Ne2 punished after the move-16 h4 attack, and a move-35 rook that would already have been enough on move 29.
   • Board 2 ½-½ GM Nico Georgiadis against IM Bakhrom Bakhrillaev A Queen's Gambit: the d5 square after 22.Bxe4 dxe4, the move 35.b4 in forty-eight seconds, and 38.Ne2 twice instead of 38.h4.
   • Board 3 0-1 GM Peng Li Min against IM Almas Rakhmatullaev Two Knights, Polerio: thirty moves of third-of-a-pawn manoeuvring, then 32.Rxf6 with one minute twenty-three left, and a move-forty rook that walks itself to the end of the a-file.
   • Board 4 ½-½ IM Fabian Bänziger against IM Mukhammadali Abdurakhmonov An Exchange QGD: the double queen trade on move 10, the bayonet 11.h4 without castling, and a knight sacrifice 32.Ng3 that liquidates into the draw.

   The day in brief

   Round 8: 3 to 1 against Uzbekistan 3

   Switzerland won the eighth round 3 to 1 against Uzbekistan 3, and both wins came with Black. GM Sebastian Bogner won on board one against IM Saidakbar Saydaliev, GM Peng Li Min on board three against IM Almas Rakhmatullaev.

   GM Nico Georgiadis drew on board two with White against IM Bakhrom Bakhrillaev, IM Fabian Bänziger on board four with White against IM Mukhammadali Abdurakhmonov. FM Colin Federer sat the round out. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

10. 9 Round 9 · Switzerland vs Serbia 1 : 3 chevron_right 25 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
    • Board 1 1-0 GM Sebastian Bogner against GM Alexey Sarana A Nimzo-Indian against a 2666: after 21...c4 no second wing left, six king moves without a plan, and thirty-eight seconds short at move forty.
    • Board 2 0-1 GM Nico Georgiadis against GM Aleksandar Indjic The passed pawn on b6 on move 37, three minutes 43 before the queen trade 38.Qd4, and on move 50 a pawn advance to a square the bishop was already watching.
    • Board 3 ½-½ GM Peng Li Min against GM Alexandr Predke A slow Italian: the freeing 13...d5, twenty-eight minutes for 20...c5, and an opposite-coloured bishop ending that could no longer be won.
    • Board 4 ½-½ IM Fabian Bänziger against GM Velimir Ivic Caro-Kann Advance against a 2601: sixteen minutes for 15.Rc1 instead of 15.Nd6, under five minutes from move twenty-seven, and a rook ending that had to be held.

    The day in brief

    Round 9: 1 to 3 against Serbia

    On table 11 against Serbia, seeded 15th, Switzerland lost the ninth round 1 to 3, and both losses came at the top. GM Sebastian Bogner lost on board one with Black against GM Alexey Sarana, rated 2666, GM Nico Georgiadis on board two with White against GM Aleksandar Indjic.

    The bottom two boards held against considerably higher rated opponents: GM Peng Li Min drew on board three against GM Alexandr Predke, IM Fabian Bänziger on board four against GM Velimir Ivic, rated 2601. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

11. 10 Round 10 · Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 : 2 chevron_right 26 September 2026 15:00 Samarkand · 12:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
    • Board 1 ½-½ GM Sebastian Bogner against IM Sanjin Culum A Sicilian with 5.Bd3: the tactical error 21.Nd3, the king in the middle, and on move thirty-six not the only save 36.Rxh7.
    • Board 1 1-0 IM Fabian Bänziger against IM Dejan Marjanović A French Steinitz: a window for Black after 12.Rd1, fourteen minutes for 16.Nd4, and the bishop move 28.Be8 that ends the game.
    • Board 2 1-0 GM Peng Li Min against IM Rijad Burovic An Italian with 4.d3: 15...f6 opens the diagonal, eleven minutes for 20...Bb4 and twenty-one minutes for 23...Kh7.
    • Board 4 ½-½ FM Colin Federer against FM Ismet Mesic A Queen's Gambit Exchange: 17...g6 as a small drift, the declined queen trade 19...Qe6, and a two-knight ending that secures the half point.

    The day in brief

    Round 10: 2 to 2 against Bosnia and Herzegovina

    The tenth round against Bosnia and Herzegovina ended 2 to 2. IM Fabian Bänziger won on board three with White against IM Dejan Marjanovic, GM Peng Li Min lost on board two with Black against IM Rijad Burovic.

    GM Sebastian Bogner drew on board one with White against IM Sanjin Culum, FM Colin Federer on board four with Black against FM Ismet Mesic. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

12. 11 Round 11 · Switzerland vs Uruguay 2.5 : 1.5 chevron_right 27 September 2026 11:00 Samarkand · 08:00 Zurich Game and analysis available
    • Board 1 ½-½ GM Sebastian Bogner against GM Georg Meier A Four Knights Scotch: the queen trade on move fourteen, the last knight on move eighteen, the practical rook move 24.Rg1, and the repetition that puts the half point down on board one.
    • Board 2 ½-½ GM Nico Georgiadis against IM Facundo Vazquez A Catalan Open: 7...Bxa3 in twenty-two seconds, fourteen minutes for 21...Na4, and the pawn that comes back with 27...Nxa2.
    • Board 3 1-0 IM Fabian Bänziger against IM Luis Ernesto Rodi An Italian Two Knights: 16.Nd5 occupies the outpost, 28...Rd1+ is the simplification that was none, and the passed pawn goes through with 51.b8=Q.
    • Board 4 ½-½ FM Colin Federer against IM Bernardo Roselli Mailhe Cambridge Springs, Rubinstein: 17...c5 as the human second-choice move, the reply 18.Nxc5 did not come, and the repetition on move thirty-four puts the half point down.

    The day in brief

    Round 11: 2.5 to 1.5 against Uruguay

    Switzerland won the final round 2.5 to 1.5 against Uruguay. The only win came from IM Fabian Bänziger on board three with White against IM Luis Ernesto Rodi; the other three boards were drawn.

    GM Sebastian Bogner drew on board one with White against GM Georg Meier, rated 2612, GM Nico Georgiadis on board two with Black against IM Facundo Vazquez and FM Colin Federer on board four with Black against IM Bernardo Roselli Mailhe. GM Peng Li Min sat the final round out. Each of the four games is annotated on the round page.

The world championship finalists at the Olympiad

Gukesh D and Javokhir Sindarov are playing in Samarkand before they meet in Geneva in November. We collect and analyse their games on the road to Geneva.

• Round 1 Gukesh D vs Faris Rashid Alriyami 1-0 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 2 Gukesh D vs Satria Duta Cahaya 1/2-1/2 Draw All games by the finalists
• Round 2 Javokhir Sindarov vs Diego Saul Rodri Flores Quillas 0-1 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 3 Gukesh D vs Sabino Brunello 0-1 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 3 Javokhir Sindarov vs Felix Blohberger 1-0 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 4 Gukesh D vs Alexei Shirov 1-0 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 4 Javokhir Sindarov vs Ediz Gurel 1/2-1/2 Draw All games by the finalists
• Round 5 Gukesh D vs Erwin L'Ami 0-1 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 5 Javokhir Sindarov vs Peter Leko 1-0 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 6 Gukesh D vs Shamsiddin Vokhidov 1/2-1/2 Draw All games by the finalists
• Round 6 Javokhir Sindarov vs Erigaisi Arjun 1/2-1/2 Draw All games by the finalists
• Round 8 Gukesh D vs Mahammad Muradli 1/2-1/2 Draw All games by the finalists
• Round 8 Javokhir Sindarov vs Matthias Bluebaum 1-0 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 9 Gukesh D vs Alexander Donchenko 0-1 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 9 Javokhir Sindarov vs Wesley So 1-0 Loss All games by the finalists
• Round 10 Gukesh D vs Ortik Nigmatov 1-0 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 10 Javokhir Sindarov vs Robert Hovhannisyan 1-0 Win All games by the finalists
• Round 11 Gukesh D vs Gleb Dudin 1-0 Loss All games by the finalists
• Round 11 Javokhir Sindarov vs Vasyl Ivanchuk 1/2-1/2 Draw All games by the finalists