A prestigious chess tournament with a total prize fund of 855 thousand US dollars has started in Samarkand.

The matches were opened by Adiz Boboev who is an acting regional governor, and Alisher Sa’dullaev, director of the Youth Affairs Agency, first deputy chairman of the Chess Federation of Uzbekistan. They wished the participants good luck. 172 grandmasters with high world ratings from 39 countries are participating in the tournament. The competition will last until September 15. The competition will become an important arena for the best chess players in the world, providing an opportunity to win significant prizes and qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.