The Complete Olympiad 2026 Guide: The Balkans
By Cameron W. · Sun, 30 Aug 2026
The Balkans is the largest single batch in this whole Europe series, eight federations, and it delivers both raw firepower and the best family story found anywhere in this project.
The Balkans is the largest single batch in this whole Europe series, eight federations, and it delivers both raw firepower and the best family story found anywhere in this project. Serbia and Croatia both field all-grandmaster Open fives, seeded 16th and 17th overall, while Slovenia isn't far behind with four GMs of its own, led by Vladimir Fedoseev at 2693, the highest rating in this batch. But the real headline belongs to Kosovo, where the Saraci family places four members across both teams: IM Nderim and CM Korab Saraci on the Open side, and WCM Rinesa and WCM Ndriqona Saraci on the Women's team. Here is how Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia 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.
Serbia
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Sarana Alexey (2666) leads an all-GM five seeded 16th overall.
One to watch: GM Indjic Aleksandar (2602), the second of five grandmasters and a genuine source of points on any board.
Prediction: A top-twenty seed with five GMs makes Serbia a serious contender for a strong overall finish in the Open section.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Injac Teodora (2417) leads a fully titled roster seeded 11th overall, captained by former Women's World Championship finalist Alisa Maric.
One to watch: IM Bivol Alina (2345), the team's second IM and a real source of depth.
Prediction: A top-fifteen seed with two IMs and two WGMs gives Serbia's women's team a genuine shot at a strong finish.
Croatia
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Saric Ivan (2623) leads an all-GM five seeded 17th overall.
One to watch: GM Brkic Ante (2610), barely behind board 1 and giving Croatia real strength at the very top.
Prediction: Five grandmasters within 70 rating points of each other make Croatia a deep, well-balanced Open team.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: FM Cvitan Ena (2274) leads a fully titled roster with two WFMs and two WIMs completing the lineup.
One to watch: WFM Zagorac Lara (2142), close behind board 1 and giving Croatia a genuine second option.
Prediction: A fully titled, evenly spread roster should keep Croatia competitive in the middle of the Balkans field.
Slovenia
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Fedoseev Vladimir (2693) leads a roster with four grandmasters, the highest individual rating anywhere in this batch.
One to watch: GM Demchenko Anton (2579), the second of four GMs and a genuine source of points.
Prediction: Four GMs and an IM, anchored by a player rated near 2700, make Slovenia a real threat for one of the best finishes in the region.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Unuk Laura (2290) leads a fully titled roster with two WIMs immediately behind her.
One to watch: WIM Urh Zala (2208), close behind board 1 and giving Slovenia real depth at the top.
Prediction: A fully titled, tightly packed roster should make Slovenia competitive throughout the Women's section.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Culum Sanjin (2459) leads a fully titled roster with three IMs, a GM, and an FM.
One to watch: GM Stojanovic Dalibor (2404), the team's grandmaster and a genuine source of points in the middle boards.
Prediction: Three IMs and a GM give Bosnia and Herzegovina a competitive, professionally titled Open campaign despite a more modest overall seed.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: WFM Babic Masa (2153) leads a roster that includes her likely sister, WFM Babic Milana, at board two.
One to watch: WFM Babic Milana (2135), barely behind her sister and giving the team a genuine family storyline at the very top.
Prediction: A fully titled top four, lifted by the Babic sisters, gives Bosnia and Herzegovina a competitive women's campaign.
Montenegro
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: GM Petrov Nikita (2565) leads a roster with four grandmasters and an FM.
One to watch: GM Kadric Denis (2518), the second of four GMs and a genuine second strong board.
Prediction: Four GMs give Montenegro real depth and a strong chance of a competitive finish in the Open section.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: FM Zherebtsova Alexandra (2272) leads a fully titled top four.
One to watch: WFM Skvortsova Alena (2143), a clear second option behind board 1.
Prediction: A fully titled, well-organized roster should keep Montenegro competitive throughout the Women's section.
North Macedonia
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Pancevski Filip (2430) leads a roster with four IMs and an FM, all within 47 rating points of each other.
One to watch: IM Risteski Emil (2407), barely behind board 1 in the tightest top-five spread found anywhere in this batch.
Prediction: Four IMs bunched incredibly closely together give North Macedonia genuine depth from top to bottom.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: WFM Stojkovska Monika (2076) leads a squad with two more WFMs and two untitled players.
One to watch: WFM Zhezhovska Monika (1990), close behind board 1 and giving North Macedonia a solid second option.
Prediction: A moderately titled roster should keep North Macedonia competitive in the lower half of the Balkans field.
Albania
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Ashiku Franc (2388) leads a fully titled roster with two IMs and three FMs.
One to watch: IM Mehmeti Dritan (2327), Albania's second IM and a genuine source of depth.
Prediction: A fully titled, tightly packed roster gives Albania a stable, competitive Open campaign.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: WFM Caku Kler (2112) leads an entirely titled roster, three WFMs and two WCMs.
One to watch: WFM Shuqja Klean (2041), a clear second option behind board 1.
Prediction: A fully titled roster top to bottom gives Albania a stable, competitive women's campaign.
Kosovo
Open
Board 1 Spotlight: IM Saraci Nderim (2465) leads a fully titled top four that includes his relative, CM Saraci Korab, at board three.
One to watch: CM Saraci Korab (2239), the second Saraci family member on the Open roster.
Prediction: A fully titled top four, carried by the Saraci family name, gives Kosovo a genuine chance to compete above its overall seed.
Women
Board 1 Spotlight: Recica Jona (1740) leads a roster that includes two more Saraci family members, WCM Rinesa and WCM Ndriqona Saraci, at boards two and three.
One to watch: WCM Saraci Rinesa (1729), part of a Saraci family presence that spans four players across both of Kosovo's teams, the single biggest family storyline found anywhere in this series.
Prediction: With four family members on the roster sheets, Kosovo's Olympiad campaign carries a genuine human-interest angle regardless of the final results.
The regional picture
Serbia and Croatia both bring all-grandmaster Open fives to a region already packed with talent, while Slovenia's Vladimir Fedoseev is the highest-rated individual player in this entire batch. Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina both field four-GM-or-titled-heavy rosters of their own, and North Macedonia's four IMs bunched within 47 points is one of the tightest spreads seen anywhere in this series. But it's Kosovo's Saraci family, four members strong across both teams, that stands out as the defining storyline of the largest batch in this entire Europe project.
