Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri has once again made his name shine in the chess world. He won the title at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan with a brilliant game. With this victory, Giri made it to the Candidates tournament for the third time, having previously participated in 2016 and 2020.
The 31-year-old Giri was joined on the podium by Germany’s Matthias Blubaum, who secured his qualification for the Candidates by finishing second.
Although Giri was happy to win the tournament, he did not spare former world champions Magnus Carlsen and Garry Kasparov. He alleged that these two legends always choose the safest names.
In an interview with Chessbase India, Giri said—
“I expect a little creativity from those who are called GOATs. They are always young, strong and tend to make simple assumptions. There is no risk, no surprise. Someone who has done something unique in the shadows could also be called such a name.”
Giri did not leave out Kasparov, whom he saw as a hero in his childhood. In his words—
“Kasparov is a great player, makes great predictions. But he always says the simple thing – if Carlsen plays, he will win. You don’t take risks like that.”
On the other hand, when Carlsen was asked about his place in Giri and Blubaum’s candidates after the Grand Swiss, he expressed surprise but gave due recognition to Giri’s achievements.
“Giri was the favorite for a long time. He finally took advantage of the opportunity, where others could not. So the victory is fully deserved,” commented Carlsen.
Is the Samarkand Trophy a bigger success than the Tata Steel Masters 2023? When asked, Giri joked,
“Tata Steel is called the Wimbledon of chess. But Grand Swiss is also amazing. The difference is that the competition here is much tougher.”
The name of young Indian grandmaster Aditya Mittal also came up in the discussion. Giri said —
“I played the final with him in the Sharjah Masters. Maybe many underestimated him then. Now look, his rating is 2620. He is the one who impressed me the most during this time.”
Anish Giri is not only a top player, he is also a chess diplomat who does not hesitate to criticize the legends with courage. His victory in Samarkand is undoubtedly one of the best moments of his career, which once again proved that Giri is not only special in “safe” moves, but also in bold positions.
Hi readers. I’m Piyali Batabyal, a passionate blogger who loves to share her thoughts, ideas, and experiences across a variety of topics—from lifestyle and beauty to personal growth and creativity. With a curious mind and a love for words.
Alongside my writing, I am also a professional makeup artist with a flair for enhancing natural beauty and creating transformative looks.