FIDE has officially announced the winners of the inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards, held in Samarkand during the 46th Chess Olympiad. The new awards ceremony was designed to recognize the individuals, teams, and media entities that are currently shaping the global chess landscape.
Among the recipients honored during the event were Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, who received the Best Breakthrough (Rookie of the Year) award, and Levon Aronian. The awards also recognized significant team and media achievements, with the India Open Team, the India Women Team, and ChessBase India receiving honors for their contributions to the sport.
The announcement took place against the backdrop of high-level competition at the 46th Chess Olympiad. While the Excellence Awards celebrated various achievements, the tournament itself saw Uzbekistan secure the Open gold medal on home soil, finishing unbeaten with 20 match points after defeating Ukraine in the final round. This victory marks the second Olympiad title for Uzbekistan.
In the women's section, the Indian women's team secured the bronze medal, finishing with 17 match points following a draw against Georgia. A standout individual performance was recorded by Savitha Shri, who completed an unbeaten run to claim an individual gold medal.
The recognition ceremony continues as the Olympiad progresses, with the remaining Best Chess Player awards scheduled to be presented during the official closing ceremony of the event in Samarkand.