Chess: draw king Anish Giri grinds to $90,000 prize at Grand Swiss on the Silk Road
The five-time Dutch champion and Germany’s No 2, Matthias Blübaum, were surprise qualifiers for the world title Candidates ahead of several more fancied rivals
The $625,000 Grand Swiss in Samarkand, on the ancient Silk Road, was a hard fought race for two qualifying spots in the 2026 world title Candidates, yet paradoxically it ended with victories for one grandmaster with a reputation for halved games and for another who nobody expected to do well.
Anish Giri, the Netherlands No 1, took the $90,000 first prize with an unbeaten 8/11 total. The five-time Dutch champion’s key game was in the final round against Hans Niemann, when the controversial American, who himself needed to win, had his attacking ideas thwarted in the opening.