During the opening ceremony of the 2023 World Championship in Tampere, Finland, the Outstanding Personalities were awarded and the Certificates and white tie were presented to two new Grandmasters, GM Abelardo Benzaquén (Argentina) and GM Ray Nicolaisen ( Norway).
For their part, the following were recognized for the Hall of Fame: Silvia Farigu (Italy) and Ismo Mäkinen (Finland) as Outstanding Competitors; Stephen Cooley (Ireland), as Outstanding Instructor/Coach; M. Kenneth Chesterman (England), as Outstanding Referee; GM Harry Vones (Germany) as Outstanding Official; GM Evan Davidson (New Zealand), as Pioneer/Teacher; M Kenneth Wheatley (Ireland), as Outstanding Country.
Umpire Meeting, in the final stages of preparing for the WC
