The echoes of intellectual combat from the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 in Singapore are still resonating, but now they are joined by the sound of applause. Singapore`s hosting of this premier global event has officially been recognized at the 2025 Singapore Sports Awards, where it secured the title of `Best Sports Event of the Year (Exhibition/Competition)`.
Organized by the esteemed Singapore National Olympic Council and Sport Singapore, these awards represent the highest national acknowledgment for excellence in sports. The 2025 ceremony celebrated standout performances and events from the preceding year, placing the World Chess Championship in a category typically occupied by high-profile athletic competitions. It seems staging a global intellectual showdown requires more than just a board and pieces; it demands impeccable logistics and presentation.
The championship match itself was a spectacle of high drama, culminating in the historic crowning of the youngest undisputed World Champion, Gukesh D, after a nail-biting series against Ding Liren. While the battle on the 64 squares captivated enthusiasts worldwide, the award specifically acknowledges the world-class organization behind the scenes, the extensive media production that brought the event to a global audience, and the successful engagement with the local community.
Hosting the World Chess Championship proved to be a strategic move for Singapore itself. Supported by entities like Google and held at a prominent venue such as Resorts World Sentosa, the event successfully showcased the city-state`s capability to manage and deliver premier international sporting competitions, reinforcing its position as a key hub in the global sports calendar.
Adding another layer to the event`s success story, local talent was also recognized. Singaporean photographer Chin An Eng received the `Sports Photo of the Year` award for a powerful image captured during the championship, perfectly encapsulating the mental tension and mirrored concentration of the competitors. A poignant visual testament to the intensity of the cerebral sport.
This dual recognition – for the event itself and a key visual artifact from it – serves as a strong testament to the positive impact and successful execution of the 2024 World Chess Championship in Singapore. Congratulations are certainly due to all the organizers, partners, and participants who made this event not just a historic chess match, but an award-winning sports spectacle on the international stage.
