The Complete Olympiad 2026 Guide: Baltic and Central Europe
By Cameron W. · Wed, 02 Sep 2026
Baltic and Central Europe delivers two more all-grandmaster Open rosters and two genuine family storylines. Hungary, seeded 8th overall, pairs Richard Rapport with the legendary Peter Leko at boards one and two, while Poland, seeded 14th, is led by Jan-Krzysztof Duda at 2743, the highest individual rating anywhere in this batch, and backs it up with a women's team seeded 8th in its own section.
Baltic and Central Europe delivers two more all-grandmaster Open rosters and two genuine family storylines. Hungary, seeded 8th overall, pairs Richard Rapport with the legendary Peter Leko at boards one and two, while Poland, seeded 14th, is led by Jan-Krzysztof Duda at 2743, the highest individual rating anywhere in this batch, and backs it up with a women's team seeded 8th in its own section. Lithuania's Open roster includes the Stremavicius brothers, Titas and Pijus, and Estonia's women's team features the Olde sisters, Margareth and Grete. Here is how Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia line up heading into Samarkand.
Board order below is provisional, based on FIDE rating, until national captains submit their fixed lineups under the Olympiad Regulations.
Hungary
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Rapport Richard (2729) leads an all-GM five seeded 8th overall, partnered at board two by the legendary GM Peter Leko.
One to watch: GM Leko Peter (2676), a former World Championship challenger still competing at an elite level.
Prediction: A top-ten seed with two genuine superstars at the top makes Hungary a serious medal contender in the Open section.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Gaal Zsoka (2369) leads a fully titled roster with three IMs at the top.
One to watch: IM Nomin-Erdene Davaademberel (2326), the second of three IMs and a real source of depth.
Prediction: A fully titled, professionally deep roster gives Hungary's women's team a solid platform to compete throughout the event.
Poland
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof (2743) leads an all-GM five seeded 14th overall, the highest individual rating found anywhere in this batch.
One to watch: GM Gumularz Szymon (2625), the second of five grandmasters and a genuine source of points on any board.
Prediction: Duda alone makes Poland a threat on board one, and a full complement of GMs behind him gives the team real depth for a strong overall finish.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Kulon Klaudia (2395) leads a team seeded 8th overall in the Women's section, one of the strongest seeds in this entire series.
One to watch: GM Socko Monika (2365), the team's grandmaster and a genuine title threat on any board.
Prediction: A top-ten seed with a GM and three IMs makes Poland's women's team a legitimate contender for a top finish.
Czech Republic
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Nguyen Thai Dai Van (2633) leads a roster with two GMs and three IMs, including the veteran GM David Navara at board two.
One to watch: GM Navara David (2619), one of European chess's most experienced and respected players.
Prediction: Two GMs anchoring three IMs give the Czech Republic a competitive, professionally titled Open campaign.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: WGM Worek Joanna (2278) leads a fully titled roster with a second WGM further down the order.
One to watch: WGM Rodshtein Tereza (2125), the team's second WGM and a genuine source of stability.
Prediction: A fully titled, two-WGM roster should keep the Czech Republic competitive in the middle of the regional field.
Slovakia
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Michalik Peter (2543) leads a roster with four GMs and an IM.
One to watch: GM Pechac Jergus (2536), barely behind board 1 and giving Slovakia real depth at the top.
Prediction: Four GMs within 84 rating points of each other make Slovakia a stable, competitive Open team throughout the tournament.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Repkova Eva (2316) is Slovakia's only IM, well clear of the rest of the roster.
One to watch: WIM Sucikova Svetlana (2166), the clearest second scoring option behind board 1.
Prediction: A single strong board carrying a titled supporting cast gives Slovakia a stable, if top-heavy, women's campaign.
Latvia
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Kantans Toms (2551) leads a roster with three GMs, a CM, and an FM.
One to watch: GM Meshkovs Nikita (2545), barely behind board 1 and giving Latvia real strength at the top.
Prediction: Three GMs bunched closely together make Latvia a competitive, professionally titled Open team.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: WGM Rogule Laura (2256) leads a fully titled roster with a second WGM further down the order.
One to watch: FM Kuznecova Marija (2248), barely behind board 1 and giving Latvia a genuine second scoring option.
Prediction: A fully titled, evenly spread roster should keep Latvia competitive throughout the Women's section.
Lithuania
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Pultinevicius Paulius (2554) shares the top of the roster with GM Stremavicius Titas, one half of a brother pairing that also includes IM Stremavicius Pijus at board five.
One to watch: IM Stremavicius Pijus (2362), completing a genuine family storyline alongside his brother at the top of the order.
Prediction: Three GMs and two IMs, with a family narrative running through the roster, give Lithuania a competitive and compelling Open campaign.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: WIM Limontaite Simona (2130) leads a fully titled roster with a WGM close behind.
One to watch: WGM Zaksaite Salomeja (2101), Lithuania's WGM and a genuine source of stability.
Prediction: A fully titled, tightly packed roster should make Lithuania competitive in the middle of the regional field.
Estonia
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Volodin Aleksandr (2485) leads a roster with two GMs, an IM, and two FMs.
One to watch: GM Kanep Meelis (2353), Estonia's second grandmaster and a genuine source of depth.
Prediction: Two GMs anchoring a fully titled roster give Estonia a competitive Open campaign against similarly ranked opposition.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Narva Mai (2405) leads a roster that includes sisters WIM Olde Margareth and WCM Olde Grete at boards two and four.
One to watch: WIM Olde Margareth (2242), part of a genuine sister pairing that gives Estonia's women's team its own family storyline.
Prediction: An IM-led roster lifted by the Olde sisters should keep Estonia competitive throughout the Women's section.
The regional picture
Hungary and Poland both bring all-grandmaster Open rosters into this batch, with Hungary's Rapport-Leko pairing and Poland's Duda giving the region real star power at the very top, and Poland's women's team standing out with an eighth-place overall seed. The Czech Republic and Slovakia both offer solid, GM-anchored depth, while Lithuania and Estonia add genuine human interest with the Stremavicius brothers and Olde sisters. Latvia rounds out the region with a tightly bunched three-GM Open roster, closing out one of the deepest and most story-rich batches in this entire Europe series.
