The 2026 FIDE Candidates opened in Cyprus with a spectacular ceremony
The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the Women’s Candidates Tournament sent a clear message to the chess world even before the first moves were played: this is not merely a tournament, but the stage for one of the game’s greatest battles on the road to the world championship. Held in Cyprus, the opening ceremony stood out through a balanced mix of music, fireworks, humour, and solemnity. Even light rain, which briefly threatened the outdoor plans, could not diminish the enthusiasm of the crowd. With some of the world’s strongest grandmasters gathered in one place, guests and spectators immediately felt they were witnessing an event of exceptional stature.
The afternoon began with a carefully designed photo session in the hotel’s “Agora”, chosen by FIDE’s media team as the visual setting for the contenders. It was a fitting venue, evoking the image of a central meeting place for some of the finest chess minds in the world. Soon afterward, players, their seconds, family members, journalists, federation officials, and invited guests came together for an informal meet-and-greet. This segment added a welcome human dimension to the event, moving beyond formal protocol and allowing everyone to connect in a more relaxed atmosphere. Before the tension of the rounds begins, such moments help underline that elite chess is also built on shared experience, preparation, and mutual respect.
Because the ceremony was planned outdoors, the light rain that arrived late in the afternoon caused some understandable concern. In the end, however, the indoor contingency plan was not needed, and the program went ahead as scheduled. At exactly 7 p.m., hosts Christos Kyriakides and Marina Philipidou officially opened the evening. The ceremony was attended by ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from the United States, Kazakhstan, China, India, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and host nation Cyprus, among others. The anthems of the Republic of Cyprus and FIDE then gave the occasion an unmistakably formal tone, reminding everyone that this was not only a major sporting event, but also a showcase for chess as a global and unifying cultural force.
The Candidates Tournament holds a unique place in the chess calendar, because success here earns the right to challenge for the world championship. For that reason, the grandeur of the opening was more than ceremonial display; it symbolized the scale of the strategic struggle about to unfold. With 16 contenders competing across the Open and Women’s Candidates events, every point, every preparation, and every opening choice will matter. This impressive beginning in Cyprus offered chess fans memorable images, but it also underscored something even more important: one of the most decisive stages on the road to the world title has now begun.