The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss in Samarkand have reshaped the season’s standings for both the FIDE Circuit 2025 and the Women’s Events 2024–2025.
Current Standings and Future Prospects
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu kept his strong lead in the FIDE Circuit despite scoring no points in Samarkand. His two closest challengers, Anish Giri—who won the Grand Swiss—and runner-up Matthias Bluebaum, qualified for the 2026 Candidates through this event and are no longer part of the circuit race.
The main threat to the leader now is Vincent Keymer. The German grandmaster picked up 16.79 points in Samarkand to rise to fourth place, but he remains 51 points behind. Keymer has only three counting events so far, and there are few major point-scoring tournaments left in the next three months. A similar situation applies to Nodirbek Abdusattorov, currently fifth with four events played, as well as Magnus Carlsen and Chithambaram Aravindh, who have only two each. With time and opportunities limited, Praggnanandhaa’s advantage appears very difficult to overturn, making his qualification for the 2026 Candidates via the circuit highly likely.
The women’s race is far more open. After Vaishali R and Kateryna Lagno triumphed in the Women’s Grand Swiss, all seven leading players in the Women’s Events standings secured places in the Women’s Candidates through various routes. That leaves one final berth available in the field that will decide the next challenger for the women’s world title.
Bibisara Assaubayeva currently leads the fight for that last spot with 99.4 points, boosted by 60 points for finishing third in Samarkand. She sits eighth overall, just behind the already qualified players. Close behind are Song Yuxin, who shared third place in Samarkand, and Anna Muzychuk, both on 80 points. Lei Tingjie stands on 62, and Harika Dronavalli has 58.5. Others still in contention include Afruza Khamdamova and former women’s world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk (both 38.5), Mariya Muzychuk (26.40), Nana Dzagnidze (25), Ulviyya Fataliyeva (20), and Irina Krush (20). With a large haul of points available at the upcoming Women’s Rapid and Blitz Championships, all of these players remain mathematically in the chase.
The final events of the season will decide who claims the last ticket to the 2026 Women’s Candidates, adding an exciting twist to the ongoing chess season.