Vishwanathan Anand, FIDE Interim President, hands the Chess Olympiad torch to Javokhir Sindarov in Bengaluru. The torch relay began in 2022 and has traveled through 75 Indian cities. The 46th Chess Olympiad takes place in Samarkand from September 15-27, 2026.
Chapters
On this special occasion, we have special dignitaries who've joined us. Please welcome Mr. Nitin Narang, President of the All India Chess Federation. May I now request our second guest, Mr. Vishwanathan Anand, FIDE Interim President, to kindly join us on stage as Mr. Gaurav Rakshit welcomes him. And finally, our third guest. Please welcome Mr. Javokir Sindarob, World Championship Challenger. Gaura requesting you to kindly welcome Javokir. May I request everyone to kindly rise for the national anthem of India.
We pause for a story. The story of a flame that has carried the spirit of Indian chess across the world. This is the story of the Chess Olympiad torch relay. On the 19th of June, 2022, history was made. For the first time in nearly 100 years of the Chess Olympiad, FIDE introduced an Olympic-style torch relay. In New Delhi, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich handed the torch to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who passed it on to the legend himself, Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand. The Prime Minister called it a proud moment, the first torch relay of the Chess Olympiad beginning in India, the very birthplace of chess. Over the next 40 days, the flame traveled through 75 cities across the country, Including right here in Bengaluru, where Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot received the torch at Raj Bhavan from Grandmaster Stani. In every city, local Grandmasters carried it forward. The relay culminated at Mahabalipuram near Chennai, where the 44th Chess Olympiad opened, the largest gathering in the event's history, with 188 nations taking part. India came away with a historic bronze in the open section as well as in the women's section. 2 years later, on 14th February 2024, India passed the flame forward. At the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur handed the Chess Olympiad torch to Budapest, Hungary, host of the 45th edition. विश्वनाथन आनंद एंड हंगरियन लेजेंड जुडिप पोलगार स्टूड विटनेस एस द बैटन क्वाइट लिटरली पास्ट ऑन। व्हाट फॉलोअड इन बुडापेस्ट वाज हिस्टोरिक। इंडिया के ओपन टीम एंड इंडिया के विमेन्स टीम बोथ वन गोल्ड, अ डबल ट्रायम्फ दैट हैड नेवर हैप्पेन्ड बिफोर। दिस सितंबर, द फ्लेम्स From the 15th to the 27th of September 2026, nearly 200 nations will compete, and India travels as the defending champion in both open and women's sections. And so tonight, here in Bengaluru, a city that has already once played host to this very flame, we celebrate that unbroken thread from Delhi to Chennai, from Delhi to Budapest, and now from India once again cheering our champions onwards to Samarkand.
This torch represents more than just a sporting event. It represents the journey of chess from India, its historic home, to nations across the world that continue to celebrate and grow the game. And now we invite to Javu Sundaro, representing the host country of the 46th Chess Olympiad, to receive the chess torch.
Yeah, we can do— please sit careful.
The torch has now been passed to Samarkand. In 2 days only, 15 September, the 46th Chess Olympiad will open its doors to the chess world. May the flame of chess continue to inspire friendship, excellence, and unity among nations. Thank you so much for joining us.
Take photo please. Take video please. Yes, we in the country view. Is there view open?
Yeah.
Thank you. Take photos? It's okay? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Take pic?
