FIDE Excellence Awards: honoring those transforming chess
The First FIDE Excellence Awards: Honouring the People and Achievements Shaping Chess
Chess is about much more than games played over the board, medals and ratings. Behind every major tournament are organisers, coaches, federations, content creators, social projects and thousands of people who help the game evolve and reach new audiences.
This is the side of chess that FIDE has chosen to highlight. In Samarkand, during the 46th World Chess Olympiad, the first FIDE Excellence Awards ceremony took place — a new biennial programme recognising outstanding achievements both on and beyond the chessboard.
The awards covered the period from September 2024 to August 2026 and offered a broad picture of the modern chess world — from young talents and top teams to tournaments, federations, social initiatives and creators who are bringing chess closer to millions of people.
Why FIDE launched the new awards
The FIDE Excellence Awards were established in 2026 as a biennial awards programme designed to recognise people, teams, tournaments, federations, content creators and projects that make a significant contribution to the development of chess.
From the outset, however, the organisers emphasised that the programme would look beyond sporting results.
The awards featured 11 categories — six main categories and five special awards. The nominations covered achievements by players and teams, tournament organisers, national federations, social projects and content creators.
In doing so, FIDE effectively broadened the traditional understanding of success in chess. Winning a major tournament remains important, but the development of the game also depends on the people working around it.
This idea was highlighted during the ceremony by Viswanathan Anand. He noted that behind every strong player there is a large network of people — from coaches and federations to arbiters, organisers, sponsors, promoters and media creators.
Youth, experience and new success stories
One of the first awards presented was Best Breakthrough (Rookie of the Year), which went to Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş, one of the most prominent young players of the new generation.
The category reflects one of the defining trends in modern chess: increasingly young players are reaching the highest levels and making the transition from promising juniors to competitors on the elite circuit at remarkable speed.
Another important story was the return of an experienced player to the highest level.
The Best Comeback award went to Levon Aronian, recognising a new successful chapter in his long career.
The two awards therefore created a kind of dialogue between generations: the programme highlighted both players who are only beginning their journeys and those who have remained part of the world chess elite for many years.
India recognised for team achievements
In the Best Team category, the Indian men's and women's national teams were recognised.
The defining achievement of the period was the historic victory of both Indian teams at the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest. The teams also continued to produce strong results on the international stage.
The award is significant because team success is different from individual achievement.
Chess fans often focus on individual players, but the Olympiad reveals another side of the game: the final result depends on the interaction of several players, captains, coaches and the wider federation system.
A special award in memory of Daniel Naroditsky
One of the most emotional moments of the ceremony was the presentation of the first Daniel Naroditsky Best Creator Award.
The Best Creator category was named after American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, who was known not only as a strong player but also as a teacher, commentator and content creator.
Naroditsky had a rare ability to explain complex chess ideas in accessible language and attract people who were only beginning to discover the game.
FIDE decided to preserve this part of his legacy through the new award. The first Daniel Naroditsky Best Creator Award went to ChessBase India. The winner also received a spot in the next Naroditsky Memorial in Charlotte.
The award therefore represented more than recognition for an individual creator or media project. It connected the development of chess content with the legacy of someone who made popularising the game an important part of his professional work.
The best tournaments: chess as a global event
FIDE also dedicated several awards to tournaments.
In the Best Tournament (Open) category, the top award went to the Qatar Masters Open. Grenke Freestyle Chess Open finished second, while the Sharjah Masters took third place.
In the Best Tournament (Round Robin) category, Norway Chess received the award. The Sinquefield Cup and Cairns Cup followed.
Particular attention was given to Norway Chess's creation of a women's tournament with equal prize money.
This illustrates how a modern chess event can be viewed beyond the strength of its field or sporting level. The format, its wider impact on chess and its contribution to expanding opportunities for different groups of players can also be significant.
The federation as an engine of chess development
In the Best Federation category, the Uzbekistan Chess Federation received the award, followed by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and the All India Chess Federation.
The choice was particularly symbolic in Samarkand.
Uzbekistan has been actively developing its chess infrastructure in recent years, hosting major international competitions and supporting its national teams.
The Excellence Awards ceremony itself was held in the country during one of the biggest chess events of 2026 — an Olympiad that brought a record 400 teams to Samarkand: 208 in the Open section and 192 in the Women's section.
Chess beyond professional sport
One of the most revealing categories was Best Chess Initiative.
The top award went to Chess in Schools and Communities, followed by Chess for Freedom and The Gift of Chess.
These projects demonstrate how far chess can extend beyond professional competition.
The game is being used in educational programmes, social initiatives and projects aimed at different communities. In this context, the chessboard becomes not only a place of competition but also a tool for learning, communication and social inclusion.
The same trend was visible in other FIDE activities in Samarkand. During September, the organisation held separate programmes focusing on the use of chess in education and social initiatives.
Recognition for players with disabilities
A separate category was dedicated to Best Chess Player with a Disability.
The award went to Lukáš Novák, with Lukáš Turlej accepting it on his behalf.
The existence of such a category highlights another important development: international chess is becoming more inclusive for players with different abilities.
This was particularly relevant in Samarkand, where the third FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities was held alongside the main Olympiad. The event featured 41 teams.
Special awards
The first edition of the programme was not limited to the main categories.
The Bundesliga, one of the world's best-known national chess leagues, received special recognition.
FIDE also recognised the FIDE America Social Initiatives Program 2025, implemented through the CCA Diversity Commission. The programme completed 14 initiatives across 11 countries in North and South America, focusing on social inclusion and the development of chess projects.
Once again, this reflects the principle behind the new awards: attention is not limited to those who occupy the spotlight during the biggest tournaments.
Why the awards matter for chess
The first FIDE Excellence Awards ceremony offered a kind of portrait of the modern chess community.
Young talents and legends, national teams and individual players, major tournaments and social initiatives, federations and content creators all appeared on the same stage.
That is also the defining feature of the new awards.
Chess exists thanks to a much broader ecosystem than simply 64 squares and two opponents. Someone creates the conditions for a tournament to take place. Someone teaches children. Someone produces broadcasts and explains games to millions of viewers. Someone uses chess to work with socially vulnerable communities. Others spend years building systems for player development.
Together, these elements shape modern chess cultu