The Complete Olympiad 2026 Guide: Eastern Europe
By Cameron W. · Mon, 31 Aug 2026
Eastern Europe keeps the remarkable run going. Ukraine and Bulgaria both field all-grandmaster Open fives, bringing the series total to seven federations in a row with five-GM rosters.
Eastern Europe keeps the remarkable run going. Ukraine and Bulgaria both field all-grandmaster Open fives, bringing the series total to seven federations in a row with five-GM rosters. Ukraine's team includes the legendary Vasyl Ivanchuk, still competing at 2634, while its women's team is led by GM Anna Ushenina, a former Women's World Champion. Bulgaria's roster is captained by, and includes as a player, GM Kiril Georgiev, one of the most experienced players in the game. Romania, Belarus, and Moldova round out the region with a mix of GMs, IMs, and FMs. Here is how Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine 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.
Ukraine
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Kovalenko Igor (2669) leads an all-GM five seeded 11th overall, a roster that includes Vasyl Ivanchuk, one of the most celebrated players of his generation.
One to watch: GM Ivanchuk Vasyl (2634), still competing at an elite level and a genuine draw for any board he plays.
Prediction: Five grandmasters and a top-fifteen seed make Ukraine a serious contender for a strong overall finish in the Open section.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: WFM Hnatyshyn Anastasiia (2465) leads a team seeded 6th overall, one of the strongest women's seeds in the whole event.
One to watch: GM Ushenina Anna (2414), a former Women's World Champion and a genuine title threat on any board she occupies.
Prediction: With a former world champion in the lineup and a top-six seed, Ukraine's women's team is a legitimate medal contender.
Bulgaria
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Naiditsch Arkadij (2574) leads an all-GM five that includes captain and playing legend Kiril Georgiev at board four.
One to watch: GM Georgiev Kiril (2520), both captain and player, bringing decades of elite-level experience to the lineup.
Prediction: Five grandmasters give Bulgaria a stable, professionally deep Open campaign throughout the tournament.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Salimova Nurgyul (2416) leads a fully titled roster with three WGMs behind her, seeded 15th overall.
One to watch: WGM Toncheva Nadya (2372), the highest of three WGMs and a genuine source of points.
Prediction: A fully titled, top-twenty seed makes Bulgaria's women's team competitive against similarly ranked opposition throughout the event.
Romania
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Deac Bogdan-Daniel (2651) leads a roster with three GMs and two IMs, seeded 23rd overall.
One to watch: GM Lupulescu Constantin (2569), the second of three grandmasters and a real source of depth.
Prediction: Three GMs and two IMs give Romania a solid, professionally titled Open campaign in the middle of this strong regional field.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Bulmaga Irina (2350) leads a fully titled roster with three WIMs and a WGM completing the lineup.
One to watch: WGM Cosma Elena-Luminita (2234), the team's WGM and a genuine source of stability.
Prediction: A fully titled, evenly spread roster should keep Romania competitive throughout the Women's section.
Belarus
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Lazavik Denis (2621) leads a roster with three GMs and two IMs, seeded 40th overall.
One to watch: IM Stribuk Artiom (2494), close behind board 1 and giving Belarus real depth at the top.
Prediction: Three GMs and two IMs make Belarus a competitive, professionally titled Open team capable of punching above its seed.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: WFM Abramkina Veranika (2254) leads a fully titled roster with a WIM and three more WFMs completing the lineup.
One to watch: WIM Tarasenka Aliaksandra (2235), barely behind board 1 and Belarus's only WIM.
Prediction: A fully titled, tightly bunched roster gives Belarus a stable, competitive women's campaign.
Moldova
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Lashkin Jegor (2490) leads a roster with three GMs and two FMs, seeded 51st overall.
One to watch: GM Schitco Ivan (2482), barely behind board 1 and giving Moldova a genuine second strong board.
Prediction: Three GMs at the top give Moldova a competitive Open team even with a more modest overall seed than its neighbors.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: WFM Verbin Valentina (2129) leads a mostly titled roster, seeded 56th overall.
One to watch: WFM Mihailova Alina (2051), close behind board 1 and Moldova's second WFM.
Prediction: A modest, largely titled roster suggests Moldova's women's team will be competitive in the lower half of the regional field.
The regional picture
Eastern Europe extends this series' remarkable run of grandmaster-heavy rosters, with Ukraine and Bulgaria both fielding all-GM Open fives and Ukraine's Ivanchuk and Bulgaria's Georgiev adding genuine star power. Ukraine's women's team, led by a former Women's World Champion and seeded sixth overall, is the individual highlight of this batch. Romania and Belarus both bring solid three-GM Open rosters of their own, while Moldova closes out the region with a more modest seed, though still fielding three grandmasters at the top of its own lineup.
