15 June 2026 Chess Victoria is delighted to announce that the following Victorians have been selected to represent Australia at the *46th Chess Olympiad*, with an outstanding *50% of the Australian team comprising Victorian players*.
*Open Team*
GM Bobby Cheng
IM James Morris
*Women's Team*
WGM Julia Ryjanova
WFM Zhiyuan Shen
WFM Nguyen Mai Chi Phan
The 46th Chess Olympiad will be held in *Samarkand, Uzbekistan*, from *15–27 September 2026*. Organised by FIDE, this prestigious international team competition is expected to attract a record number of participating nations in both the Open and Women's sections.
Selection to represent Australia at the Olympiad is one of the highest honours in chess, recognising years of dedication, hard work, and outstanding performance. This achievement is a testament to the commitment, perseverance, and excellence demonstrated by each player throughout their chess journey.
Chess Victoria is proud to see Victoria so strongly represented on the international stage and is pleased to support our representatives through a **$500 sponsorship contribution** for each selected Victorian player attending the event.
On behalf of the Victorian chess community, we extend our sincere congratulations to all selected players and wish them every success as they proudly represent Australia in one of the world's most prestigious chess competitions.
Good luck to the Australian team as you compete against the world's best and fly the Australian flag with pride.
*Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!*
Melbourne, Australia
secretary.chess.victoria@gmail.com
https://www.chessvictoria.org.au