The inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards were presented in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, bringing together the global chess community to celebrate outstanding achievements both on and off the board during the 2024–2026 Olympiad cycle.
Held alongside the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, the ceremony honoured leading players, teams, tournaments, federations, creators and initiatives whose work has contributed to the development and global reach of chess.
Established in 2026 as a biennial programme, the FIDE Excellence Awards cover achievements from September 2024 to August 2026. Following an open nomination process, ten nominees in each of the 11 categories were shortlisted by the FIDE Excellence Awards Jury before the final recipients were determined by the FIDE Excellence Awards Panel.
The evening began with welcoming remarks from Odil Abdurakhmanov, representative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Sports, who highlighted Uzbekistan’s role as a crossroads of cultures and civilizations and spoke about chess as something that reaches far beyond sporting competition – a universal language capable of bringing people together.
Viswanathan Anand then welcomed the guests and thanked the Government of Uzbekistan for its hospitality and for hosting the event in Samarkand.
Reflecting on the purpose of the awards, Anand stressed that the success of chess is built not only by its champions, but by a much wider community.
“Behind every great player, there are people who supported them, directly or indirectly: federations, coaches, arbiters, organizers, sponsors, promoters, photographers, professionals from many backgrounds who use chess as a tool to help people grow and become better,” Anand said.
“Tonight is about recognizing them and their efforts. The Excellence Awards are an opportunity to bring some of those achievements into the spotlight and simply say thank you. Thank you for being there when it mattered, thank you for providing support when it was important, and for seeing an opportunity that others did not,” he added.
Anand concluded by congratulating all nominees and recipients and extending FIDE’s gratitude to everyone contributing to the game, whether recognised during the ceremony or not.
Excellence on and around the board
The awards programme in Samarkand celebrated achievements across different areas of the chess world, from emerging talent and remarkable sporting returns to team success, inclusion, content creation, tournaments and social initiatives.
Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş was named Best Breakthrough (Rookie of the Year), recognising the extraordinary rise of one of the world’s leading young talents.
Levon Aronian received the Best Comeback award, following another remarkable chapter in his long career at the highest level.
The Best Team award went to India’s Open and Women’s National Teams, recognising an exceptional period for Indian chess, highlighted by the historic double gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest and a series of major international successes.
Łukasz Nowak was named Best Chess Player with a Disability, with Łukasz Turlej accepting the award on his behalf.
Remembering Daniel Naroditsky
A particularly meaningful moment of the evening came with the presentation of the Daniel Naroditsky Best Creator Award.
The category carries the name of the late American grandmaster, educator, commentator and content creator Daniel Naroditsky, honouring his exceptional ability to share chess knowledge and bring the game closer to audiences around the world.
Before announcing the recipient, Arkady Dvorkovich paid tribute to Naroditsky and his contribution to the chess community.
“He made an amazing contribution to promoting chess to younger generations and to everyone who loved the spirit of chess. He worked endlessly, and he was the kind of person who was loved by everyone.”
Dvorkovich described preserving Naroditsky’s legacy as something carrying both institutional and personal significance before announcing ChessBase India as the first recipient of the Daniel Naroditsky Best Creator Award.
As part of the recognition, the winner also receives a free spot at the next Naroditsky Memorial in Charlotte, further connecting the award with the tournament established to celebrate Naroditsky’s life and legacy.
Excellence beyond the board
The ceremony continued by recognising tournaments, organisations and initiatives whose impact extends across the international chess community.
The Qatar Masters Open received first place in the Best Tournament (Open) category, followed by the Grenke Freestyle Chess Open in second place and the Sharjah Masters in third.
In the Best Tournament (Round Robin) category, Norway Chess took first place, with the Sinquefield Cup second and the Cairns Cup third. Among the developments recognised at Norway Chess was the establishment of its women’s tournament with an equal prize fund.
In the Best Federation category, the Uzbekistan Chess Federation received first place, with the Kazakhstan Chess Federation taking second and the All India Chess Federation third. The award recognised the work of national federations in developing chess, supporting players and strengthening the game at both grassroots and elite levels.
The awards also celebrated projects using chess to create a broader social impact. Chess in Schools and Communities received first place for Best Chess Initiative, followed by Chess for Freedom in second and The Gift of Chess in third.
Special recognition
The evening also included special recognition for the Bundesliga, honouring one of the world’s most established and prestigious national chess leagues.
The FIDE America Social Initiatives Program 2025 was also recognised for its work across the continent. Implemented through the CCA Diversity Commission, the programme supported 14 completed initiatives across 11 countries, demonstrating how chess can be used to promote inclusion and social engagement in different communities.
The Best Chess Player (Female) and Best Chess Player (Male) awards will be presented separately during the Closing Ceremony of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, completing the inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards programme.
With the final awards of the Gala presented, the inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards evening came to a close in Samarkand, celebrating the players, teams, organisers, creators, federations and initiatives whose achievements and contributions continue to shape chess around the world.
Written by Angelika Valkova
Photos: KNZO Photography