Is the Grand Swiss Too Random for Candidates Spots?

The FIDE Grand Swiss always seems to deliver drama, and this year’s edition was no exception. To help break it all down, I am joined by popular commentator, Chessable author, and host of the Power Play Chess YouTube channel, GM Daniel King.

In our conversation, Daniel shares his takeaways on: • The common thread that fueled the successes of GMs Anish Giri and Matthias Blübaum • Standout performances from young stars like GMs Erdogmus, Mishra, and Woodward • Why the Women’s Grand Swiss produced fewer surprise qualifiers • A look ahead to the FIDE World Cup and the fight for the remaining Candidates spots

We also touch on tournament formats, opening preparation, and Daniel’s current projects. This was a fascinating event to follow and an equally fun one to recap with GM King.

Thanks to our sponsors, Silver Knights Chess Academy. If you know a scholastic player who could use high quality online group lessons, be sure to check them out. 

chessacademy.com/online 

Use coupon code- "pod"  to save 50% on the first month. 

0:00- Intro

0:03- Whose play impressed Daniel?

Mentioned:

Pragganandhaa-Mishra 2025

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/04/Praggnanandhaa_R-Mishra_Abhimanyu

Keymer-Bluebahm 2025

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/10/Keymer_Vincent-Bluebaum_Matthias

IM Greg Shahade’s tweet-

https://x.com/GregShahade/status/1967742931122724924

 10:00- How will Bluebahm fare in the Candidates?

13:00- 

Mentioned: Colin McGourty’s great tournament recap is here:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/2025-fide-grand-swiss-13-conclusions#giri-1

15:00- Does the FIDE Grand Swiss format  make it too likely that non-elite players will qualify for the Candidates? 

Mentioned: Peter Heine Nielsen’s Tweet

https://x.com/PHChess/status/1967494651566588023

Leonard Barden’s column for The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/12/chess-erdogmus-14-wins-immortal-game-on-silk-road-as-grand-swiss-nears-climax

17:00- Daniel’’s thoughts on the new FIDE Women’s Candidates

20:00- Who would Daniel like to see earn one of the last Candidate spots? 

Mentioned: 

Chess Reddit post on players not yet in the Candidates:

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1nig9bx/10_strong_players_but_only_3_available_slots/

Giri-Niemann 2025

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/11/Giri_Anish-Niemann_Hans_Moke

25:00- Should there be a tiebreak playoff at the Grand Swiss? 

Browne-Petrosian 1982

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1035512

29:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Should FIDE use a different pairing algorithm in order to limit color imbalances?”

The two papers (via Dr. Benjamin Portheault) that describe the pairing system are here:

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2112.10522

 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.19333

32:00- Patreon mailbag question: “At what stage are players leaving their opening prep at the professional level?”

37:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Where can a player find good model games in the Kalashnikov Sicilian?” 

Mentioned: Cuenca, Moisenko, SL Narayanyan, Maghsoodloo, Bulmaga 

39:00- What is Daniel’s process for following tournaments and picking games to show on his channel?

Mentioned: Mittai-Erdogmus 2025

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/04/Aditya_Mittal-Erdogmus_Yagiz_Kaan

42:00- Daniel’s current projects:

Join his Patreon here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/powerplaychess/posts

50:00- Check out Daniel’s book reviews on his channel:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhyM8toCZs_oHwQr_PTveXDkbnbq2Z4HO

53:00- Before we go, we make incorrect predictions of who will win the FIDE World Cup!! 

56:00- Thanks as always to Daniel for joining me. Here is how to keep up with him:

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBATpFb--uLNAODOVWvCTA

His Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/c/powerplaychess/

His Chessable Courses:

https://www.chessable.com/author/DanielKing/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices