The closing ceremony of the 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates was a vibrant and memorable finale, an evening filled with emotion, celebration, and a distinctly Cypriot charm.
Set against the stunning beachfront of the St. George’s Hotel & Resort, the one-and-a-half-hour show blended traditional dance, live music, bursts of fireworks, and moments of light-hearted humour.
Hosts Maurice Ashley and Charlize Van Zyl opened the evening promptly at 8 p.m., welcoming an audience of more than 100 players, coaches, family members, friends, sponsors, and organizers. There was a palpable sense of pride and relief in the air after three intense weeks of competition, with smiles and laughter shared among the guests.
Following the national anthem of Cyprus and the FIDE anthem, the audience was treated to a moving video recap of the tournament’s most memorable moments. The film drew warm applause and, maybe for some, a touch of nostalgia.
The ceremony continued with a pre-recorded message from the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, who praised the players’ dedication and highlighted the importance of hosting such a prestigious global event on the island.
Viswanathan Anand, five-time World Champion and Deputy President of FIDE, then took the stage to warm applause. In a thoughtful and reflective speech, he spoke about the unmistakable generational shift taking place in the chess world: how a fearless new wave of players is rising, challenging, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the game’s long-established titans.
The mood then shifted to celebration, as traditional Cypriot music and dance performed by a local troupe brought colour, rhythm, and energy to the evening.
This lively interlude set the stage for a series of speeches from key figures, including Criton Tornaritis, President of the Cyprus Chess Federation; Valeriia Avksenteva, Deputy Executive Director of Freedom24; Marinos Lamprou, Mayor of Akamas, and Panayiotis Markou, Director of Sales and Marketing at the St. George’s Hotel & Resort.
It was Markou’s speech, however, that sparked the most emotional response of the evening. As he announced that each room the players had stayed in would be named after them, the audience erupted into a warm and sustained applause.
The ceremony continued with the introduction of the sixteen contenders of the 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates Tournaments, presented by Angelika Valkova. With charm and wit, she engaged some of the players in light-hearted questions, drawing genuine laughter and relaxed, candid responses.
Finally, the prize-giving, the emotional climax of the evening, brought the ceremony to its most meaningful and memorable moment. In the FIDE Women’s Candidates, Zhu Jiner claimed the bronze medal, while Bibisara Assaubayeva took silver. They were joined on the top step of the podium by the winner, Vaishali Rameshbabu.
As the three stood together, the audience rose in a heartfelt standing ovation, acknowledging not just their results but the intensity and brilliance of their performances, with the national anthem of India adding a powerful note to the celebration.
The awards were presented by Valeriia Avksenteva, Deputy Executive Director of Freedom24, and Isai Scheinberg, a long-standing supporter of chess and the first recipient of the FIDE Medal of Merit in the 21st century.
Attention then turned to the Open Candidates. Fabiano Caruana received the bronze medal, while Anish Giri secured silver. They were joined by the tournament’s winner, Javokhir Sindarov, whose achievement was met with enthusiastic applause, while listening to the anthem of Uzbekistan. Sindarov, visibly moved, delivered a short and sincere speech, expressing gratitude and reflecting on his journey.
The awards were presented by Viswanathan Anand, Deputy President of FIDE, and Marina Stylianides, Director of Cap St. Georges and Korantina Homes. The evening concluded on a unique and touching note with a pre-recorded telephone conversation between the President of Uzbekistan and Sindarov.
The full broadcast of the closing ceremony can be watched on the FIDE YouTube channel:
Written by IM Michael Rahal, FIDE press Officer
Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga
