Candidates 2026 Opening Ceremony
A ceremony worthy of champions
The games may only begin today, but every major sporting event deserves a memorable start, and the 2026 FIDE Candidates delivered exactly that. The opening ceremony, held on the evening of 28 March at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus, blended music, fireworks, humour, and moments of gravity into a vibrant spectacle. Even a touch of rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the audience, who embraced the atmosphere with enthusiasm.
The afternoon’s schedule began with a striking photo opportunity. The creative minds behind FIDE’s media team chose the hotel’s “Agora” as the setting – a fitting central stage for the gathering of some of the greatest minds in the world. Immediately afterwards, the players, their seconds, families, and a large contingent of journalists, officials, and dignitaries enjoyed an informal meet‑and‑greet. This novel initiative gave everyone the chance to get to know one another better while also enjoying some well‑deserved refreshments.
Towards the end of the allotted time, light rain began to fall, sparking some concern, as the opening ceremony was scheduled to take place outdoors. Fortunately, the indoor contingency plan never had to be activated, as the weather ultimately held.
At 7 p.m. sharp, with all players, officials, and guests seated, the evening’s hosts, Christos Kyriakides and Marina Philipidou, took the floor. They welcomed officials and distinguished members of the diplomatic community, including ambassadors and representatives from the United States, Kazakhstan, China, India, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Cyprus, before inviting everyone to stand for the anthems of the Republic of Cyprus and FIDE.
The sixteen contenders in the 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates Tournaments were then invited onto the stage. FIDE host Angelika Valkova posed a light‑hearted question to each of them, prompting responses that drew warm laughter from the audience and once again showcased the players’ sharp wit and sense of humour.
— GM Matthias Blübaum, on the mathematical probability of any player winning
GM Matthias Blübaum – also a mathematician – drew laughter when, asked whether every player had a 12.5% chance of winning, he replied: “I won’t argue against uniformly distributed winning chances. I’ll take it!”
GM Wei Yi also surprised the audience by revealing one of his secondary passions: poetry. His remark, “If I win the Candidates, maybe I will write another poem to Mr. Ding and invite him to join my team,” earned the loudest applause of the evening.
Following a short promotional video, the hosts invited five officials to the stage to address the audience and share a few remarks. The Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Kostas Koumis, described hosting these two elite events as a great honour for the country, highlighting Cyprus’s growing reputation as a destination for high‑level sporting competitions.
The President of the Cyprus Chess Federation, Mr. Criton Tornaritis, reminded attendees that chess is experiencing significant growth in Cyprus, with special government awards being granted to promising young talents and gifted children.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich expressed his gratitude to the Government of Cyprus, local institutions, and the event’s partners – Freedom Group, the Scheinberg family, and the Cap St. George Hotel – for making it possible to host the tournament in Cyprus and provide optimal conditions for the players.
Freedom Holding Corp CEO Timur Turlov noted that chess had helped him build friendships across a wide range of industries, emphasizing that it remains one of the most respected and widely appreciated games in the world.
Finally, the Business Development Director of Cap St. George Hotel, Constantinos Malaou, delivered an inspiring message, describing the tournament as a celebration of excellence at the highest level – bringing together some of the world’s greatest chess minds, where every move matters, every decision carries weight, and every moment reflects discipline, preparation, and vision.
To conclude the celebration of this remarkable gathering of minds, the hosts welcomed to the stage a performer who embodies harmony and creative brilliance – an artist who moves effortlessly between jazz, soul, and swing, bringing timeless elegance to her craft. Greek singer Thomai Apergi, accompanied by piano and saxophone, captivated the audience with two superb performances, showcasing the richness and versatility of her voice.
As music and fireworks filled the air, Arkady Dvorkovich officially declared the tournament open.
Round one starts today, Sunday, March 29, at 15:30 local Cyprus time (UTC+3). The headline pairing is Fabiano Caruana vs Hikaru Nakamura. The other first‑round games: Sindarov–Esipenko, Blübaum–Wei Yi, and Praggnanandhaa–Giri.
The games can be followed live on the FIDE YouTube channel with expert commentary by GMs Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson. Tickets are still available at tickets.fide.com.
For full coverage, visit the official tournament website.
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