Why Magnus Carlsen Didn’t Qualify for the Grand Swiss

And he’s not alone. Several legendary players have failed to qualify this year – Viswanathan Anand, Peter Svidler, Teimour Radjabov, and Veselin Topalov among them. The reason? A strict qualification rule introduced by FIDE.

This year, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) established a clear condition: to qualify based on rating, a player must have played at least 30 classical games between December 2023 and November 2024. Those who don’t meet this threshold are excluded, regardless of how high their rating is. Carlsen played just 26 classical games in that period. Anand played only 7. No exceptions. The rule applies equally to everyone, and that’s exactly the point. In an era where many top players prioritize rapid events, blitz, or streaming, this sends a strong message: to be part of classical chess, you must actually play it.

This absence of legends has opened the door for the new generation—and for the Czech Republic, that’s very good news. Among the 100 players who qualified by rating, we find two Czech names: David Navara (2674) and Thai Dai Van Nguyen (2670). Both not only met the rating requirement but also fulfilled the game minimum. For Czech chess, it’s a strong signal that our top players remain competitive on the world stage—not only historically, but right now.

Slovakia, on the other hand, currently has no players in the main lineup. However, hope is not lost. Jerguš Pecháč is among the potential reserves. If some players withdraw, or if FIDE grants wildcard entries, he might still make the list. For a country with a proud chess tradition, his participation would be a welcome boost.

There are also major updates to this year’s tournament format. Most notably, the prize fund has been raised to a record $855,000—with $625,000 allocated for the Open section (a 36% increase) and $230,000 for the Women’s Grand Swiss (a 64% increase). FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky described the prize hike not just as a financial improvement but as a message of intent. “This is about providing more opportunities and better conditions for a wider range of players,” he said. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich emphasized the expanded women's field, which now includes 56 players thanks to six new spots—four based on the June 2025 FIDE rating list and two wildcards. "This gives more chances to emerging talents to grow," Dvorkovich noted.

The Grand Swiss remains one of the most important events on the chess calendar—not just as one of the strongest open tournaments in the world, but also as a vital qualifier for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The top two finishers in both the Open and Women’s sections will earn a coveted spot.

Looking at the full list of players who won’t be competing due to the game requirement, the names are striking: Le Quang Liem, David Howell, Boris Gelfand, Topalov, and Morozevich, to name just a few. These are players who have shaped modern chess. But reduced classical activity has sidelined them from this cycle. As a result, the 2025 Grand Swiss will inevitably have a different feel—more youthful, more dynamic, and more open to new challengers.

Some fans may see the absence of Carlsen and other stars as a drawback. Yet from FIDE’s perspective, it’s a deliberate push to restore the value of classical chess. In a time dominated by fast formats, the Grand Swiss stands out as one of the few places where traditional time controls still mean everything.

For Czech and Slovak chess, this is perhaps the biggest opportunity in recent memory. Without Carlsen, Anand, and other heavyweights in the field, the path to the top is more open than ever. This could be a turning point—not just for individual players, but for the region as a whole.

Magnus Carlsen won’t be playing in Samarkand. But maybe that’s exactly why someone else will finally get their chance to shine. And who knows—perhaps this tournament will give rise to a Czech or Slovak chess story worth telling for years to come.