The inaugural leg of the 2024/2025 Women's Grand Prix concluded in Tbilisi with a closing ceremony that honored the winner, celebrated the participants, and highlighted the significance of women's chess in Georgia.

The ceremony took place in the ballroom of the prestigious Biltmore Hotel, located in the heart of Tbilisi. Just hours earlier, this same venue witnessed the final moves that determined the fate of the world's top female chess players.

Akaki Iashvili, president of the Georgian Chess Association, praised the players for their extraordinary performances, stating, "These 11 days were emotionally intense, but I believe our esteemed guests have enjoyed Georgian hospitality. The GCF and FIDE have worked hard to provide the best conditions for players to showcase their talents in the tournament." He also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Sports and Culture of Georgia and the Tbilisi municipality for their unwavering support of chess, a sport deeply respected in Georgian culture.

One of the most famous Georgian and world chess players, the legendary Nona Gaprindashvili, congratulated the players on their games and praised Tbilisi for hosting such a prestigious event. "It was a pleasure to have such a high-level tournament in Tbilisi, and I am happy that more chess projects are on the way, offering great experiences for both players and spectators. I visited almost every day to watch the games. Some players won, some lost—that's sport. I wish the chess players who didn't achieve great results better success in the future," said Gaprindashvili.

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky echoed these sentiments, noting that "the past 11 days flew by quickly, as the games were enjoyable."

"FIDE has about 200 federations, and we host our events in 50 countries, but there are only a handful of federations where we can be confident the events will be of a very high standard, and the Georgian Chess Association is one of them. This event surpassed even our very high expectations," said Sutovsky, who concluded his speech with a toast to Georgia and its people.

The highlight of the ceremony was when the top three players—Alina Kashlinskaya, Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Stavroula Tsolakidou—were invited to the stage to receive their awards: a trophy and a medal. The winner, Alina Kashlinskaya, was greeted with the loudest applause.

"This is my biggest achievement so far. I want to thank FIDE for the opportunity to play here. I want to thank my biggest strengths—my son and my mum," said Kashlinskaya.

The evening was filled with music, celebration, and a sense of accomplishment. Notable public figures, state officials, and chess players were among the attendees who enjoyed a performance by the famous Georgian group 'Quartet Four' and a vibrant dance group performing traditional Georgian dance.

The ceremony, as well as the entire tournament, underscored Georgia's unique role in the global chess community as an excellent host and organizer. The next major chess event the country will host is the 2025 Women's World Cup, scheduled to take place in Batumi next July.

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Anna Shtourman

Official FIDE WGP website: womengrandprix.fide.com/