The Qatar Masters Open Chess Championship has been awarded the Best Open Tournament in the World accolade as part of the FIDE Awards 2026. The award ceremony was held alongside the 46th Chess Olympiad and the FIDE General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The FIDE Awards are presented biennially in recognition of outstanding achievements, initiatives, and tournaments that have demonstrated exceptional standards over a two-year cycle and contributed to the development and global promotion of chess.
The recognition of the Qatar Masters as the world’s best open tournament underscores the prestigious position it has attained on the international chess calendar. It also reflects the championship’s exceptional organizational and technical standards, as well as its success in attracting some of the world’s leading chess players from across the globe.
This achievement marks another milestone for the State of Qatar and the Qatar Chess Association, highlighting their continued efforts in organizing and hosting major international events and reinforcing Qatar’s status as a global destination for chess.
Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association, expressed his pride in this accomplishment, noting that the award serves as a strong motivation to continue developing the Qatar Masters and elevating its stature in line with Qatar’s growing prominence on the world chess stage.
The award comes at a time when Qatar is maintaining a strong presence in the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, while the Qatar Chess Association is also actively participating in the proceedings of the FIDE General Assembly, reflecting the increasing influence and visibility of Qatari chess in international forums.
Qatar Masters continues to add new achievements to the record of Qatari chess, with this global recognition serving as a testament to Qatar’s excellence in hosting and organizing world-class international tournaments.
