The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced the creation of a new annual prize — the FIDE Chess Oscar — designed to recognize the most outstanding achievements and contributions in the world of chess. The award revives the spirit of the historic “Chess Oscar,” once presented by journalists, but now reimagined with a modern, transparent, and inclusive structure under FIDE’s official governance.
A Global Celebration of Chess Excellence
The FIDE Chess Oscar will celebrate excellence across all levels of the chess ecosystem — from world-class competitors to innovative organizers, federations, and creative projects that advance the game globally. According to the new regulations approved by the FIDE Council, the award will be presented every year starting in 2025.
The award categories include:
- Chess Player of the Year (Male and Female)
- Tournament of the Year – with separate recognition for the best Open and Round-Robin events
- Federation of the Year
- Project or Initiative of the Year – celebrating creative or impactful contributions to chess culture, technology, or education
Each category follows a rigorous, multi-stage process emphasizing impact, excellence, and integrity — the three pillars guiding the award.
“The FIDE Chess Oscar is about celebrating not only the best performances on the board but also the creativity, organization, and inspiration that drive chess forward,” a FIDE spokesperson explained. “We want this to become the highest symbol of prestige in the modern chess world.”
How the Award Works: From Nomination to Ceremony
The process unfolds in two stages — public nominations and jury selection — ensuring both community involvement and professional oversight.
Stage 1: Public Nominations and Shortlisting
The first stage invites the global chess community — federations, players, organizers, journalists, and fans — to nominate candidates through an official online form. Public participation will be open for most categories, except the Player of the Year awards, which will be based on objective performance metrics such as ratings, major tournament results, and sportsmanship.
The FIDE Working Group — a team of up to eight members drawn from the FIDE Management Board, commissions, and staff — will then review all submissions. This group’s role is administrative: collecting data, verifying eligibility, and creating a shortlist of the most deserving candidates for each category.
The shortlist will not be a popularity contest. Instead, it will be curated based on verifiable data, objective criteria, and the quality of public support. FIDE-owned tournaments will be excluded from the “Tournament of the Year” category to ensure fairness and avoid conflicts of interest.
Stage 2: Jury Deliberation and Final Vote
Once the shortlist is approved, an independent Jury Panel — consisting of up to seven prominent figures from the chess world — will select the winners through a secret ballot.
The jury will include:
- Two active chess players (one male, one female)
- Two leading chess journalists or commentators
- One renowned trainer
- Two representatives from FIDE’s Management Board and Council
The jury’s decisions will be made independently, and the names of jurors will be published in advance to ensure transparency. Voting results may later be shared publicly in summarized form.
Recognizing the Best in Every Corner of the Chess World
Each award category has its own specific criteria, reflecting the unique nature of the contribution being recognized:
Chess Player of the Year (Male & Female)
This award honors the top-performing players based on tournament victories, rating performance, consistency, and fair play. Nominees must have actively participated in the FIDE Circuit and demonstrated excellence both on and off the board — including public engagement and positive influence on the chess community.
Tournament of the Year
Open and round-robin tournaments will be judged on organization, innovation, inclusiveness, and global reach. Factors include venue quality, participation rates, prize structure, use of modern technology (anti-cheating tools, live broadcasts), and engagement across media and social platforms.
Federation of the Year
This category recognizes federations that have made measurable progress in development, inclusivity, and sustainability. Growth in player numbers, youth programs, women’s initiatives, and grassroots projects will be considered, along with organizational excellence and social impact — such as chess in schools, prisons, or disability programs.
Project or Initiative of the Year
This category celebrates creativity and vision — from documentaries and books to digital platforms or educational innovations. Projects will be evaluated for originality, reach, effectiveness, and cultural influence. Multiple winners may be selected to highlight initiatives of different scales, from global campaigns to local breakthroughs.
Fairness, Integrity, and Prestige
To uphold transparency, all stages of the process will be overseen by the FIDE Management Board and Council. These bodies will approve the award regulations, verify the shortlist’s compliance, and formally confirm the final results once the jury’s decisions are made.
The award also introduces a no-appeal clause — decisions by the Jury and Working Group are final. However, all procedural rules and jury appointments will be made public before voting begins.
“We want the Chess Oscar to stand for credibility,” said a member of FIDE’s Management Board. “It should be an award that the entire chess world — players, fans, and organizers alike — can trust and take pride in.”
A New Era for the Chess Oscar
The original “Chess Oscar” was an informal tradition run by journalists between 1967 and 2013, with legends such as Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, and Magnus Carlsen among its winners. However, that award was not officially sanctioned by FIDE.
The new FIDE Chess Oscar brings this legacy into the modern era, combining the community’s passion with institutional accountability. For the first time, the award will also recognize not just top players, but the wider ecosystem that powers the game — organizers, federations, educators, and innovators.
The inaugural FIDE Chess Oscar Ceremony will be a global broadcast event, with winners receiving specially designed trophies and diplomas. Runners-up may receive medals, and all nominees will be honored during the event.
A Symbol of Chess’s Global Growth
In recent years, chess has seen unprecedented global expansion — from the surge of online play to Netflix-driven mainstream popularity and FIDE’s increasing professionalization of events. The FIDE Chess Oscar aims to capture and celebrate that momentum each year.
By recognizing the full spectrum of contributions — from over-the-board brilliance to creative innovation — FIDE hopes to cement the Chess Oscar as the sport’s most prestigious annual honor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the FIDE Chess Oscar
1. What is the FIDE Chess Oscar?
The FIDE Chess Oscar is a new annual award presented by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to honor excellence and innovation in the world of chess. It celebrates the top players, tournaments, federations, and projects that have made a significant impact over the past year.
2. Is this the same as the old Chess Oscar from the past?
Not exactly. The original Chess Oscar, awarded between 1967 and 2013, was organized by journalists and voted on by the public. The new FIDE Chess Oscar revives the tradition under FIDE’s official governance, ensuring transparency, fairness, and modern standards of recognition.
3. What are the main award categories?
There are four primary categories:
- Player of the Year (Male and Female)
- Tournament of the Year (separate awards for Open and Round-Robin events)
- Federation of the Year
- Project or Initiative of the Year
Additional honorary categories may be added in the future at FIDE’s discretion.
4. How are nominees selected?
The process has two stages:
- Public Nomination: Members of the chess community — federations, players, organizers, journalists, and fans — can nominate candidates online.
- Jury Selection: A distinguished, independent jury evaluates the shortlist and votes for the winners.
5. Can fans vote for the winners?
No. Public participation is limited to the nomination phase. Winners are chosen by a jury panel of experts, ensuring that the final decisions reflect both excellence and integrity rather than popularity.
6. Who sits on the Jury Panel?
The Jury consists of up to seven respected figures, including:
- Two active players (one male, one female)
- Two well-known chess journalists or commentators
- One leading coach or trainer
- Two representatives from FIDE’s Management Board and Council
The names of all jurors will be announced publicly before voting begins.
7. What are the main criteria for winning an award?
Each category has its own specific criteria, but all nominees are evaluated on three universal principles:
- Impact – measurable positive influence on the chess community
- Excellence – exceptional quality and achievement in their field
- Fair Play & Integrity – ethical conduct and contribution to chess values
8. Can FIDE’s own tournaments be nominated for Tournament of the Year?
No. To maintain impartiality, FIDE-owned or directly managed events are excluded from the Tournament of the Year category.
9. How are ties handled during voting?
If two or more nominees receive the same total points, the number of first-place votes is used as a tiebreaker, followed by second-place votes if needed.
10. What will the winners receive?
Each winner will receive a FIDE Chess Oscar trophy, along with an official diploma. Runners-up may receive medals, and all shortlisted nominees will be honored during the ceremony.
11. When and where will the first FIDE Chess Oscar ceremony take place?
The exact date and location will be announced by FIDE once the shortlist and jury are finalized. The ceremony will be a public event broadcast globally.
12. Can I nominate someone or submit a project?
Yes. When nominations open, anyone in the chess community can submit candidates for most categories via the official FIDE website. Supplementary materials (such as tournament reports, media coverage, or project summaries) may be required.
13. How can I stay updated about the award process?
FIDE will publish official announcements, nomination forms, shortlists, and jury updates on fide.com and through its verified social media channels.
14. What happens if a winner can’t attend the ceremony?
Winners who are unable to attend may authorize a representative to accept the award on their behalf. Written notice must be submitted to the Awards Working Group in advance.
15. Are the Jury’s decisions final?
Yes. All decisions made by the Jury and the Working Group are final and not subject to appeal. Participation in the nomination process implies full acceptance of these regulations.
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300. Send me a challenge or message via Lichess. Follow me on Twitter (X) or Facebook.
