FIDE rolled out the shortlists for its new Excellence Awards, a biennial honor spanning achievements across the global chess world. The inaugural edition covers a two-year cycle and includes eleven categories: six regular awards and five discretionary ones. Each category features ten nominees selected by a jury appointed by the FIDE President.
The regular categories recognize outstanding achievement, individuals, events, teams, federations, and initiatives. The discretionary categories give the jury flexibility to honor excellence that doesn't fit traditional slots. FIDE completed the shortlisting process after a June nomination period, with verification handled by the FIDE Excellence Awards Jury working alongside the FIDE Management Board and the Excellence Awards Working Group.
This inaugural cycle covers achievements starting in September. The biennial structure means FIDE will cycle through these awards every two years, making this the first major effort to formalize recognition across chess beyond individual tournament victories and rating milestones.
The jury selection process aims to ensure nominees represent genuine excellence rather than popularity contests. With ten finalists per category, the eventual winners will face real competition for recognition. Winners haven't been announced yet, but the shortlists signal which federations, events, and players FIDE views as driving the game forward.