Will Carlsen miss the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand?
Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-ranked chess player and a 16-time world champion, will not compete in the 46th World Chess Olympiad, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 15 to 27 this year. According to a report by ChessBase, the famous Norwegian grandmaster has decided not to take part in the major event with the national team.
Norway’s losses and ranking drop
In addition to Carlsen, Aryan Tari and Jon Ludvig Hammer were also left out of Norway’s national team roster. With three key and leading grandmasters absent, Norway dropped all the way to 21st place in the Olympiad’s initial starting rankings.
For context, Magnus Carlsen has competed in eight of the last 10 Chess Olympiads, winning bronze medals on the first board at the 2022 and 2024 events.
Samarkand 2026: Absent stars and the main favorites
Category | Information and details |
Tournament | 46th World Chess Olympiad |
Dates and venue | September 15–27, 2026, Samarkand, Uzbekistan |
Norwegian players absent | Magnus Carlsen, Aryan Tari, Jon Ludvig Hammer |
Other stars missing the tournament | Alireza Firouzja (France), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) |
Main contenders for the top prize | Uzbekistan, India, USA |
Major absences from other teams
The Norwegian stars are not the only ones missing Samarkand’s prestigious chess festival. Alireza Firouzja was left out of France’s squad, while the USA will compete without Hikaru Nakamura and Azerbaijan without Teimour Radjabov.
The main battle for the gold medals is expected to be fought between India, the USA and hosts Uzbekistan.
In your opinion, how much do the absences of stars such as Carlsen, Nakamura and Firouzja improve Uzbekistan’s chances of becoming Olympic champions at home?
Share your analysis in the comments and immediately pass this important news on to chess fans!
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