The 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates culminated in a spectacular beachfront ceremony in Cyprus, blending cultural performances with the final awards presentation. This remarkable event, held over 90 minutes at the St. George’s Hotel & Resort, showcased traditional dance, live music, fireworks, and a retrospective of three weeks of intense competition.
Cultural Highlights of the Ceremony
Hosts Maurice Ashley and Charlize Van Zyl kicked off the evening at 8 p.m. in front of an audience exceeding 100 players, coaches, family members, sponsors, and organizers. The ceremony commenced with the national anthem of Cyprus, followed by the FIDE anthem. A captivating video recap revisited the tournament’s key moments, celebrating the journey of each competitor.
A recorded message from Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides applauded the talent on display and emphasized the importance of hosting such a prestigious event on the island. FIDE Deputy President and five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand shared insights into the evolving landscape of elite chess, highlighting the emergence of new contenders who are challenging established players.
The audience was then treated to a vibrant performance by a local dance troupe, which infused the event with Cypriot color and rhythm. Following this, speeches were made by 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 venue. Markou’s announcement that the rooms used by the players would bear their names received a warm response from the crowd.
Angelika Valkova took the stage to introduce the 16 contenders from both tournaments, engaging the audience with brief onstage exchanges before the highly anticipated prize-giving ceremony.
In the Women’s Candidates, Zhu Jiner earned the bronze medal, while Bibisara Assaubayeva took home silver. Vaishali Rameshbabu of India was crowned the winner, celebrated with the playing of India’s national anthem. The medals were presented by Valeriia Avksenteva and Isai Scheinberg, a notable chess supporter and the first recipient of the FIDE Medal of Merit in the 21st century.
In the Open Candidates, Fabiano Caruana claimed bronze and Anish Giri secured silver. Javokhir Sindarov triumphed to take first place, celebrated with the national anthem of Uzbekistan. The awards were presented by Viswanathan Anand and Marina Stylianides, Director of Cap St. Georges and Korantina Homes. The ceremony concluded with a recorded telephone exchange between the President of Uzbekistan and Sindarov, marking a fitting end to a memorable event.