This December, history and chess will meet in Samarkand, one of the oldest settlements on earth. Samarkand was a key city on the historical trade route of the Silk Road, and also had historical significance for chess: it was in this city in 1977 that the earliest known chess pieces were discovered, dating from the 6th and early 8th century AD.

"FIDE recognizes Uzbekistan's rich chess traditions and its recent transformation into a chess superpower. This dedication and investment in chess prompted us to entrust the holding of this prestigious event to Uzbekistan," said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

"Uzbekistan will also host the Chess Olympiad in 2026, and holding such major competitions as World Rapid and Blitz will certainly give impetus to the preparation for the tournament," Dvorkovich added.