Emotional Farewell Marks the End of 2026 FIDE Candidates
The 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates ended with an emotional and memorable closing ceremony. The evening was filled with celebration, pride, and a unique Cypriot atmosphere.
The event took place at the beautiful beachfront of the St. George’s Hotel & Resort. The 90-minute show featured traditional dance, live music, fireworks, and light-hearted moments that entertained everyone.
The ceremony began at 8 p.m., hosted by Maurice Ashley and Charlize Van Zyl. More than 100 guests attended, including players, coaches, family members, sponsors, and organizers. After three intense weeks of chess, the atmosphere was relaxed, with smiles and laughter all around.
The evening started with the national anthem of Cyprus and the FIDE anthem. A special video showing the best moments of the tournament followed. It brought back great memories and received warm applause from the audience.
A recorded message from Nikos Christodoulides was then played. He praised the players for their dedication and highlighted the importance of hosting such a major global chess event in Cyprus.
Next, Viswanathan Anand, five-time World Champion and Deputy President of FIDE, delivered a thoughtful speech. He spoke about the new generation of fearless young players who are rising and competing strongly against experienced champions.
The mood turned festive with traditional Cypriot music and dance performed by a local group. The performance added energy and color to the evening.
Several important guests then gave speeches, including Criton Tornaritis, Valeriia Avksenteva, Marinos Lamprou, and Panayiotis Markou.
One of the most emotional moments came during Markou’s speech. He announced that each hotel room used by the players would be named after them. This touching gesture received loud and long applause from the audience.
The sixteen players of both tournaments were then introduced by Angelika Valkova. She interacted with the players in a fun way, asking light questions and creating a relaxed atmosphere filled with laughter.
Women’s Candidates Prize Winners
The prize ceremony was the highlight of the night. In the Women’s Candidates:
- Zhu Jiner won the bronze medal
- Bibisara Assaubayeva secured silver
- Vaishali Rameshbabu won the tournament
The audience gave a standing ovation as the winners stood on the podium. The national anthem of India made the moment even more special.
The awards were presented by Valeriia Avksenteva and Isai Scheinberg.
Open Candidates Prize Winners
In the Open Candidates:
- Fabiano Caruana took bronze
- Anish Giri won silver
- Javokhir Sindarov became the champion
Sindarov received huge applause as the anthem of Uzbekistan played. He gave a short and emotional speech, thanking everyone and reflecting on his journey.
The awards were presented by Viswanathan Anand and Marina Stylianides.
The ceremony ended on a unique note with a recorded phone conversation between the President of Uzbekistan and Sindarov. It was a touching and memorable way to close the event.
This closing ceremony perfectly captured the spirit of the 2026 Candidates—intense competition, rising stars, and unforgettable moments.
Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga, FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
