On 4 April, Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus, made the ceremonial first move in Round 6 of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, opening the game between Wei Yi and Javokhir Sindarov in Cyprus.
Speaking to FIDE, Skourides said Cyprus was proud to host an event of this calibre as part of its broader ambition to strengthen its role as a regional hub for research, innovation and technology. He noted that bringing some of the world’s leading grandmasters to the island also helps foster a wider culture of reasoning, cognitive development and future-oriented thinking.
Skourides also highlighted the close link between chess, science and innovation. In his view, chess develops critical thinking, pattern recognition and analytical skills, qualities that are equally important in research, technology and education. “Innovation is not just a short game, it is a long game,” he said, stressing the importance of developing the mindset needed to look ahead and make better decisions over time.
He further underlined the educational value of hosting a tournament of this stature in Cyprus. For younger audiences, the opportunity to watch world-class grandmasters in action can be a source of inspiration, encouraging interest in STEM and practical problem-solving. In this sense, chess becomes more than a competition, it becomes a tool for developing the skills that matter in future careers, from engineering to artificial intelligence.
Skourides’ participation in the ceremonial first move reflected one of the key ideas behind supporting the tournament in Cyprus: chess, like science and long-term investing, rewards discipline, structured thinking and the ability to think several moves ahead.
