5 hrs ago
Indian Chess Teams Face Five-Hour Room Delay in Samarkand
India’s chess teams traveled to Samarkand for the 2026 Chess Olympiad.
When they arrived, their hotel rooms were not ready.
The players waited for about five hours.
Team captain Srinath Narayanan said there was no clear information about when rooms would be available.
He also said the hotel was overbooked and had not received the team’s reservation.
Another player, Vidit Gujrathi, complained about the delay online.
Later, a team coach said everyone had received a room.
India’s men’s and women’s teams are defending champions from 2024.
India’s chess teams waited about five hours for hotel rooms after arriving in Samarkand on Tuesday.
Men’s captain Srinath Narayanan and Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi publicly criticized the delay.
The teams were scheduled to stay at the Silk Road by Minyoun hotel.
Narayanan said the hotel was overbooked and the local organising committee had not sent the reservation.
A coach later confirmed that all players had received rooms, though the experience was described as unpleasant.
- Who
- India’s men’s and women’s chess teams, including captains Srinath Narayanan and Swayams Mishra.
- What
- The teams waited about five hours for hotel rooms after arriving for the Chess Olympiad.
- Where
- Samarkand, Uzbekistan, at the Silk Road by Minyoun hotel.
- When
- Tuesday, September 15, ahead of the tournament scheduled for September 16 to 27.
- Why
- Srinath Narayanan said the hotel was overbooked and the local organising committee had not sent the reservation to the hotel.
Key facts
- Event
- 46th Chess Olympiad
- Host city
- Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- Tournament dates
- September 16 to 27, 2026
- Accommodation delay
- Approximately five hours
- Scheduled hotel
- Silk Road by Minyoun
- Final reported status
- A team coach said all players had eventually received rooms
- Defending champions
- Both Indian teams won their respective titles in 2024
Quotes
Member of the Indian travelling squads
A member of the Indian teams travelling to the Chess Olympiad
“Having a terrible experience at the @FIDE_chess 2026 Olympiad. The team landed 5 hours ago at Samarkand airport. The team still haven’t been allotted rooms, with absolutely no clarity on when it’ll be allotted.”
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
“We were told that the hotel was overbooked and the reservation wasn’t sent by LOC to the hotel”
indianexpress.com
Sources
Related news
India Faces Hotel Chaos While Defending Chess Olympiad Titles
India's Online Camp Prepares Chess Team for Olympiad
Chess Olympiad 2026 Torch Handed to Uzbek Grandmaster Sindarov
India Defend Both Chess Olympiad Titles in Samarkand
Praggnanandhaa Says He Would Accept India’s Reserve Role
Asian Games Cricket Teams Offered Hotels Amid Facility Concerns
India’s Women’s Chess Team Enters Olympiad Stronger, Coach Says
Chess star Deekshitha, 14, jumps 29,200 spots in one month
