Months after the dramatic conclusion of the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship in Singapore, which saw India`s Gukesh D make history by becoming the youngest ever undisputed World Champion in a captivating match against China`s Ding Liren, the event`s impact is still resonating. This global spectacle, hosted in the vibrant city-state, has now received significant formal recognition for its successful execution.
The championship was recently awarded the title of Best Sports Event of the Year (Exhibition/Competition) at the upcoming 2025 Singapore Sports Awards. This accolade holds considerable weight, representing the highest form of recognition for excellence in sports within Singapore. The awards are organized jointly by the Singapore National Olympic Council and Sport Singapore, celebrating the standout achievements and events from the preceding year.
The reasons behind this prestigious award extend beyond the intense strategic duels that unfolded on the chessboard. While the level of play culminating in a historic outcome was undoubtedly a key element, the recognition specifically acknowledges the comprehensive quality of the event`s production and management. Factors contributing to its win included the world-class standard of organization, the high technical quality of the media production that broadcast the match globally, and the significant level of community engagement that the event successfully fostered. Supported by Google and hosted at the prominent Resorts World Sentosa venue, the championship effectively demonstrated Singapore`s capability and appeal as a sophisticated host city for major international sporting events.
Adding another layer to the event`s recognition, Singaporean photographer Chin An Eng was also honored with the Sports Photo of the Year award for a powerful image captured during the match. The winning photograph vividly portrays the immense mental concentration and pressure faced by the players, showing both Gukesh and Ding Liren in similar poses of deep thought, heads in hands, with their national flags visible in the background – a striking visual narrative of the psychological intensity at the pinnacle of competitive chess.
This significant award from the Singapore Sports Awards serves as a powerful affirmation of the 2024 World Chess Championship`s success, not only as a sporting contest but as a major international event that positively impacted its host city. FIDE conveyed its sincere gratitude to the Singapore Chess Federation, the local organizing committee, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and the fans, whose collective efforts were instrumental in making the event a resounding triumph. The award underscores the increasing global stature of chess and reinforces Singapore`s position as a capable and enthusiastic host for world-class sporting events.
Callum Darby 
Finley Holt