Singapore has received a significant nod on the global sporting stage, with the FIDE World Chess Championship Match 2024, held in the city-state, being named the Best Sports Event of the Year (Exhibition/Competition) at the prestigious 2025 Singapore Sports Awards.
The championship, which saw India`s Gukesh D make history by becoming the youngest undisputed World Champion after a captivating contest against China`s Ding Liren, transcended the standard definition of a chess match. While the on-board drama was certainly compelling over 13 tense games, the award recognizes the broader success of the event as a major international spectacle.
Organized by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and Sport Singapore, the Singapore Sports Awards represent the nation`s highest acknowledgment of sporting excellence. The inclusion of the World Chess Championship in this esteemed list underscores the event`s impact and the quality of its presentation, placing it alongside traditional athletic competitions.
Winning this award wasn`t merely about showcasing top-tier chess. The recognition specifically highlights the world-class organization, sophisticated media production, and successful community engagement efforts that surrounded the match. Essentially, Singapore demonstrated that it could not only host a complex, high-stakes global championship but also present it in a manner that captivated a worldwide audience and resonated locally.
With support from major partners like Google and hosted at a premier venue, Resorts World Sentosa, the championship successfully positioned Singapore as a capable and attractive hub for hosting major international sporting and intellectual events. It seems making history on the chessboard wasn`t the only win occurring in Singapore during that period; making event hosting look this seamless was also a masterstroke.
Adding a unique layer to the event`s legacy, Singaporean photographer Chin An Eng also received the Sports Photo of the Year award for a powerful image captured during the match. The photograph reportedly depicted the intense mental concentration and mirrored postures of the two competitors, flags visible in the background, perfectly encapsulating the pressure cooker environment of a World Championship.
This award is a testament to the collaborative effort involving FIDE, the Singapore Chess Federation, local organizers, sponsors, volunteers, and the enthusiastic fans. It validates the significant work invested in bringing such a high-profile event to Southeast Asia and executing it flawlessly. The recognition at the Singapore Sports Awards serves as a powerful affirmation of chess`s growing prominence and Singapore`s capability to host world-class events.
