Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The ancient city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is set to host the 2023 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships from December 26 to 30. This five-day tournament will gather the world’s top chess players, vying for the title of the World Champion in Rapid and Blitz across the Open and Women’s categories

This December, history and chess will meet in Samarkand, one of the oldest inhabited places on earth. Samarkand was a pivotal city along the historical Silk Road trade route and also holds historical significance for chess: It was in this city where the earliest known chess pieces were discovered in 1977, dating to between the 6th and early 8th century AD.

"FIDE recognizes Uzbekistan’s rich chess tradition and its recent emergence as a chess superpower. This dedication and investment in chess led us to entrust the hosting of this prestigious event to Uzbekistan," FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said.

"Uzbekistan will also host the 2026 Chess Olympiad - and hosting such a major event as World Rapid and Blitz will certainly give a boost to preparations," Dvorkovich added.