Press release by FIDE
The games may only begin tomorrow, but every major sporting event deserves a memorable start, and the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournaments delivered exactly that. The opening ceremony 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.
In this course, you will learn the foundations and key ideas of the Vienna Game and discover a variety of systems that make you extremely difficult to prepare for.
The Vienna Game is one of the most underrated openings in modern chess. While the Ruy Lopez and Italian dominate elite practice, the Vienna offers rich, creative play with far less theoretical burden and enormous practical value.
Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: 1: 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 exf4 - Martin vs Adams
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.
The ceremony took place outdoors, after all | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
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.
In particular, GM Mathias Bluebaum – 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.
Matthias Bluebaum and host Angelika Valkova | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
Let us learn together how to find the best spot for the queen in the early middlegame, how to navigate this piece around the board, how to time the queen attack, how to decide whether to exchange it or not, and much more!
It is time for Wei Yi's interview | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
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' growing reputation as a destination for high-level sporting competitions.
Meanwhile, 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.
The President of the International Chess Federation, 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, emphasising 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.
Dignitaries sitting on the first row | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
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.
Glorious sacrifices, unexpected tactics and checkmating attacks. The King's Gambit is one of the oldest and most romantic openings in the game of chess. This DVD contains all you need to know to tackle your opponent.As music and fireworks filled the air, Dvorkovich officially declared the tournament open.
Thomai Apergi was accompanied by a saxophone player | Photos: FIDE / Michal Walusza
Round one starts tomorrow Sunday, March 29, at 15:30 local Cyprus time. The games can be followed live on the FIDE YouTube channel, with expert commentary by GMs Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson.
In this video course, experts including Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Karsten Müller and Oliver Reeh, examine the games of Boris Spassky. Let them show you which openings Spassky chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were and much more.
