Turlov Meets with President of Cyprus: Chess Development
Cyprus Backs Chess: Timur Turlov Meets Nikos Christodoulides
A major tournament puts a country in the spotlight for a few weeks. But what happens once the grandmasters leave, the stands empty and the broadcasts end? The lasting impact on chess depends on whether children keep playing, coaches have opportunities to teach and local players can compete regularly.
That long-term development was the focus of a meeting between FIDE President Timur Turlov and President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides. The meeting took place on October 19, 2026, at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia. Freedom24 CEO Evgeny Tyapkin also attended. Discussions covered plans to develop chess on the island and what other countries might learn from Cyprus’s experience.
From International Tournaments to Everyday Chess
Cyprus already has experience hosting major competitions. The island welcomed stages of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in 2023 and 2025, followed by the Open and Women’s Candidates Tournaments in 2026.
Its local chess scene is growing too. According to FIDE, 26 tournaments have been held in Cyprus with Freedom24’s support since 2023. In March 2025, the Freedom24 Chess Academy opened in Limassol under the direction of International Master Artem Sadovsky. The national federation estimates that around 2,000 people actively play chess on the island, most of them children.
For a beginner, these opportunities work together. Discovering chess at a major event can spark an interest, lessons with a coach can help sustain it, and regular tournaments offer a chance to put new skills to the test.
A host country’s success therefore cannot be measured solely by the strength of the stars it attracts. Just as important is the path available to a local child: from learning how the pieces move to playing a first tournament game and progressing further.
Why This Experience Matters to FIDE
Turlov outlined a guiding principle: major competitions should leave behind trained players and coaches, better infrastructure and stronger federations. FIDE sees Cyprus’s experience as an example of how international events can support chess development within a host country.
This approach requires sustained effort. Staging a high-profile competition and building a lasting programme for beginners involve different kinds of work. For the latter, progress depends on accessible lessons, good teaching and a regular tournament calendar.
Cooperation between the federation, government and private partners can help connect those efforts. A meeting at the highest level is one step in that process; its practical value will emerge through the opportunities available to players.
The Real Impact Comes After the Meeting
The news from Nicosia raises a question that matters across the chess world: how can the attention generated by major tournaments become a lasting interest in the game itself?
The answer rests on practical foundations: an active club, an accessible coach, a nearby tournament and a child’s desire to sit down at the board again.
Over time, these are the signs that will reveal how chess in Cyprus is developing. Major tournaments provide a powerful opening. The next chapter belongs to those who keep playing after the events are over.