MBABANE —Eswatini will face Turkmenistan in the first match at the ongoing FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The third edition of the global chess showcase begun today Friday September 11, 2026 following the official opening ceremony yesterday, Thursday September 10. While 40 nations clashed in the opening round, Eswatini’s campaign officially commences tomorrow at 12:00 noon local time (3:00 PM in Uzbekistan).
According to the International Chess Federation (FIDE) fixtures, Eswatini will square off against Turkmenistan in their opening fixture. Turkmenistan enters the matchup with an Elo rating of 2 017, ranking 16th among the 41 competing nations, while Eswatini holds an Elo rating of 1 400 and sits at the bottom of the rankings.
Turkmenistan opened the third edition of this tournament today against Kyrgyzstan and suffered a 3-1 defeat.
In a separate development, Eswatini’s elite chess players are scheduled to depart on Monday for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, which runs from Tuesday September 16 to Sunday September 27.
Team Eswatini;
Captain: Bagcinile Mlambo
Players;
1. Vikelo Nkomodze
2. Mlandvo Khumalo
3. Mncedisi Magagula
4. Kiara Halar
5. Sinenkhosi Khoza
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