"VAN" (Sports Desk - 17.09.2025) :: The closing ceremony at the Silk Road by Minyoun Hotel conference hall provided a fitting end to what FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich called “a truly magnificent event”.
After the national anthems of Uzbekistan and FIDE were performed, distinguished guests – including the Director of the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan Alisher Saʼdullayev and Samarkand Region Governor Adiz Boboev – delivered congratulatory speeches, followed by the official prize-giving ceremony conducted by Chief Arbiter Laurent Freyd.
Arkady Dvorkovich, who awarded Anish Giri the victory cup, praised the tournament’s strength and drama. “Not only was this the strongest lineup of all the Grand Swiss tournaments so far, but it brought the most drama – with leadership ties and uncertainty well into the last round,” he said, congratulating the four qualifiers Giri, Bluebaum, Vaishali and Lagno before thanking all the participants for “putting on a great chess show which will be remembered in history.”
The FIDE President emphasised chess’s global reach and the symbolic importance of hosting the event in Samarkand, noting the ancient Silk Road city as having “strong roots” in chess history while also representing the game’s future.
With the 2026 Chess Olympiad also scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Dvorkovich expressed optimism about the continued partnership with Uzbekistan.
Responses
Leave your comment