Fourth Leg of FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-2025 Begins in Nicosia
The fourth leg of the 2024-25 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix has officially begun. The tournament is being held at the luxurious Nicosia Hilton Hotel in Cyprus from March 14 to March 25. Ten of the world’s top female chess players will compete in this prestigious event.
A Grand Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony started at 7:00 PM with the national anthem of Cyprus, followed by the FIDE anthem. FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky then welcomed the guests and emphasized the importance of the tournament.
“In the past two years, Cyprus has become a key chess hub in Europe. We are proud to work with the Cyprus Chess Federation and our partner, Freedom, to promote chess worldwide.”
Cyprus as a Chess and Financial Hub
Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp, also addressed the audience. He thanked the players for their participation and expressed his excitement about Cyprus’ growing role in chess.
“Cyprus is a welcoming country with great weather, food, and opportunities. I hope the players enjoy both the competition and their time exploring Cyprus.”
Turlov also praised FIDE for their continued collaboration and mentioned new initiatives like the International School Federation to further promote chess.
Chess Growth in Cyprus
Criton Tornaritis, President of the Cyprus Chess Federation, highlighted the rapid growth of chess in the country.
“This is the second time we are hosting this event, and I hope there will be a third. Thanks to Freedom’s support, chess in Cyprus has expanded to over 2,000 members, most of them children.”
A Night of Celebration
After the speeches, a group of young dancers from Live Dance Studio performed, bringing energy and excitement to the event.
The evening ended with a group photo featuring all the players, tournament officials, and guests. Attendees also had the chance to interact with the players, take photos, and enjoy a cocktail reception.
Tournament Details
The first round will take place on Saturday, March 15, at 3:00 PM. According to the rules, players from the same federation must face each other in the opening round.
Fans can watch the games live on YouTube with expert commentary from GM Alik Gershon and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich.
Written by Michael Rahal
Official website: womengrandprix.fide.com/
Photos: Mark Livshitz, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
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