The 20-day chess festival in Cyprus has come to an end. We look forward to the next one

On the evening of 16 April, the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort on the west coast of Cyprus hosted the closing ceremony of the FIDE Candidates Tournament for the world chess crown. The winners were 20-year-old Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) and 24-year-old Vaishali Rameshbabu (India). The tournament’s prize fund of one million euros was provided by the Freedom Holding Corp. and Scheinberg family. Speeches were interspersed with Cypriot folk dances, and the 20-day celebration of chess concluded with a fireworks display.

By Andrey Avsitidiysky

“This evening, I warmly congratulate all 16 outstanding players. You have inspired spectators around the world. I wish to offer my sincere congratulations to the winners and celebrate the triumph of their talent… Chess speaks all languages; it transcends borders, teaches discipline, develops the imagination and instills a sense of responsibility”, said the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in a recorded video message.

The 15th World Champion and First Vice-President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Viswanathan Anand, answered his own question: ‘What made Cyprus special?’.

• This was the first Candidates Tournament to be held in this part of the world, marking a new chapter in the history of FIDE, as well as in the history of chess in Cyprus.
• We witnessed a true generational shift. A new wave of players made their mark alongside the recognised titans of chess.
• We saw two completely different stories unfold. Javokhir Sindarov’s impressive winning streak demonstrated a level of dominance previously unseen in Candidates Tournaments. Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, the battle went down to the wire.

It was drizzling at the tournament’s opening, but by the time it closed, summer had arrived on the island, so guests, according to the President of the Cyprus Chess Federation, Criton Tornaritis, were able to appreciate that the weather in Cyprus is ideal. Thanks to the support of sponsors, particularly Freedom24, chess in Cyprus is developing rapidly. Plans to introduce it into schools are under discussion.

“I would like to thank all the chess players who flew to Cyprus to see our beautiful country. I hope they enjoyed it. Let’s look forward to the next major event in Cyprus. Because chess is not just a game, but a universal language”, stated Criton Tornaritis.

Panayiotis Markou, Sales and Marketing Director at Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, announced that the hotel rooms occupied by the winners of the Candidates Tournament, Javokhir Sindarov and Vaishali Rameshbabu, will be named in their honour.

‘It was a great honour for Freedom24 and Freedom Holding to be the main partners of this tournament, because Cyprus is our home… We are proud to support chess in Cyprus as a whole… We have been and will continue to be a reliable partner for chess on the island, and we are delighted to contribute to the development of a game that fosters strategic thinking, discipline and excellence’, said Valeriia Avksenteva, Deputy Executive Director, Freedom24.

Tournament winner Javokhir Sindarov admitted that he was very happy. In his words, winning such a tournament is every chess player’s dream. It was very difficult. The winner thanked his team, the Uzbekistan authorities, the sponsors and the fans who came every day to support him.

“I enjoyed my stay in Cyprus. Thank you to the organisers. The hotel is magnificent. There was plenty of entertainment here. I played video games and padel. I even managed to relax. I would love to hold all my tournaments in similar conditions. Thank you all!” concluded Sindarov.

Key results of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus

Quick poll

Emil Sutovsky, FIDE CEO

“It was a great celebration of chess. The tournament took place in a wonderful hotel and was excellently organised. The main highlight was Sindarov’s outstanding performance. He demonstrated the highest quality of preparation and play”.

Isai Scheinberg, one of the two main sponsors of the Candidates Tournament

“I have been to many Candidates Tournaments, but this is the first time I have witnessed such a convincing victory. It is a paradox, but just a month ago many did not consider Sindarov the favourite. I think that in Cyprus we saw the future world champion in action”.

Peter Svidler, Grandmaster, one of the finest chess commentators

“Sindarov’s performance in Cyprus will go down in chess history. We haven’t seen such dominance in a tournament of this calibre since Topalov’s victory in San Luis in 2005. As for the women’s tournament, it delighted us with its superb drama”.

Award Ceremony | FIDE Candidates 2026