FIDE World Amateur Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships in Nigeria: Registration deadline extended
The Organising Committee of the FIDE World Amateur Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships has announced that the registration deadline for the 2026 edition has been extended to July 12, 2026. The event will be held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, from August 1 (arrival) to August 8 (departure), 2026. The Championships are open to players who hold a FIDE rating under 2300 and are registered by their national federations. Federations have the right to enter an unlimited number of players. The Championships will be conducted using the Swiss System, with the number of rounds determined based on the final registration numbers. The time controls: Rapid: 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment from move one Blitz: 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment from move one Email: worldamateur_rb@fide.com Official website: worldamateur_rb2026.fide.com
Beyond the board: Cultural, educational and social activities set for FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026
The African Continental Stage of the World Schools Team Championship 2026 (WSTC 2026) runs in Stellenbosch from July 6 to 11, with nearly 30 school teams from across the continent arriving to compete. As part of the global WSTC cycle, teams will play across multiple rounds throughout the week, with the top performers going on to qualify for the WSTC Grand Final later this year. In line with the Year of Chess in Education 2026, the championship features a full educational programme running alongside the competition: masterclasses, workshops, and cultural exchange activities designed to make the week matter long after the final round. The programme opens on July 7 at the Lectorium of Stellenbosch University, where Dr. Lyndon Bouah, former South African Chess Olympian, national team captain, and author of 14 books on chess history, presents South Africa at the Chess Olympiads (1958–2022) and launches his newest book, Namaste: India 2022, on South Africa’s run at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai. Participants will have the opportunity to explore South African chess history, hear behind-the-scenes stories from the Olympiads, and engage with one of Africa’s leading chess historians and sports administrators. On July 8 at 18:00, the Lectorium of Stellenbosch University will also host a simultaneous exhibition with a structural twist. International Master Henry Robert Steel will face multiple opponents in the traditional format, with one exception: one board will be contested collectively by the audience. Spectators vote on each move, deliberating openly before the majority decision is played – a format that transforms passive observers into active participants and turns a classic chess tradition into a shared intellectual exercise open to all. July 9 brings two back-to-back sessions at the Lectorium. From 16:30 to 18:00, Dr. Denise Bouah, a Women International Master, three-time South African National Women’s Chess Champion, and sport psychologist, leads “Raising Champions: From Talent to Title,” unpacking the mental side of high performance: focus under pressure, emotional regulation, and the kind of confidence that holds up outside the tournament hall, too. The day closes with “Breaking Barriers: Challenging Stereotypes Through Chess,” an interactive workshop run with Teach the Nation, where players examine how the setbacks and victories of the board shape character and how chess can challenge assumptions and build stronger relationships between players, parents, and coaches. Beyond the official educational programme, the week is packed with activities built to introduce players to South African culture, from local dance and music to hands-on craft sessions. A dedicated lounge zone gives kids a space to unwind between rounds, and a handful of other surprises round out the schedule. Put it all together, and the championship starts to feel less like a tournament and more like a full-blown chess festival for kids. “This isn’t a week where kids just show up, play, and leave,” said the ISCF team. “The masterclasses and the cultural programme are there so they walk away with something. A skill, a perspective, a connection to a place they’d never been before.” The FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 continues through the week in Stellenbosch, with the competitive programme running alongside the full schedule of masterclasses and side events. The championship is supported by Freedom Holding Corp., the international financial and investment group, whose partnership has been instrumental in bringing the full scope of the programme to life. About ISCFThe International School Chess Federation (ISCF) is dedicated to promoting chess in schools worldwide, using the game as a tool for education, personal development, and youth empowerment. ISCF organizes international school chess championships and educational programmes across multiple continents in partnership with national federations and educational institutions. Official website: https://ischoolchess.com/
International Chess Day 2026: Celebrate, create and make a difference
On July 20, the global chess community will come together to celebrate International Chess Day 2026, a day dedicated to the game that connects people across countries, cultures and generations. This year, FIDE invites players, federations, clubs, schools, organisers and chess fans everywhere to take part. There are many ways to get involved: you could stage a game in an unusual location, run an inclusive community event, or join the live-streamed global conversation about chess and social change. No event is too large or too small. Every game played, every person welcomed, and every story shared helps demonstrate chess’s unique ability to unite, inspire and create positive change. Take chess beyond the board with Creative Chess FIDE once again invites the global chess community to celebrate International Chess Day by taking part in Creative Chess, a challenge to promote the game in the most imaginative way possible. The idea is simple: set up a chess game in the most unusual, meaningful or symbolic place you can think of. It could be on a mountaintop, underwater, beside a famous local landmark or anywhere else that captures the imagination. Last year’s challenge produced a wonderful outpouring of creativity from around the world. Submissions included a rooftop game beneath the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, chessboards on the slopes of volcanoes in Costa Rica, a submerged set in the world’s deepest pool in Dubai and games played across the streets, trains and temples of Mumbai. Players, families, schools and even a few pets joined the celebration, all united by one game. To participate, organize your creative chess game or moment in the days leading up to and around International Chess Day. Share your photos or videos on social media using #InternationalChessDay and tag FIDE. The most original and inspiring submissions may be featured across FIDE’s official social media channels. The board may have 64 squares, but the world of chess is boundless. Where will you take the game? Celebrate participation and inclusion with FIDE WOM The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) invites federations, clubs, schools, academies and organizers worldwide to mark International Chess Day by creating opportunities that encourage equal participation throughout the chess community. Activities can take many forms: a tournament, simultaneous exhibition, workshop, lecture, introductory lesson, school programme or informal community gathering. Organizers are encouraged to design welcoming events that bring people together, introduce new participants to chess and highlight the contributions of women and girls to the game. Every initiative counts. A small club activity can be just as meaningful as a large international event when it creates a supportive space in which more people feel encouraged to play, learn, organize and lead. How to participate Organize an event around International Chess Day and share photos, videos and highlights on social media. Tag the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess and use #InternationalChessDayWOM so that activities from across the world can be brought together as part of the global celebration. After the event, organizers are invited to submit a short report accompanied by two or three photographs to project coordinator Anna Kantane at anna.kantane@gmail.com. Together, these events will showcase the remarkable work taking place within chess communities worldwide while inspiring greater participation and creating new opportunities through the game. Join the global discussion: Chess as a Force for Social Change As part of the International Chess Day celebrations, the FIDE Social Commission will host a special interactive panel discussion exploring how chess can serve as a practical tool for rehabilitation, protection, inclusion and development. Titled “Chess as Social Value: From the Chessboard to Society,” the 60-minute live discussion will bring together policymakers, researchers, programme leaders and practitioners who are using chess to create tangible change in communities around the world. Rather than focusing on chess solely as a sport, the conversation will examine what the game makes possible: in prisons, refugee communities, schools, social programmes, government institutions and research environments. Through concrete examples drawn from the speakers’ direct experience, the panel will demonstrate how chess can build confidence, encourage positive behavior, support education and create opportunities for people in vulnerable or underserved communities. The discussion will feature nine speakers representing a wide range of international projects and professional backgrounds: Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board and former Minister of Finance and Minister of Economics of Latvia Mikhail Korenman, leader of the Chess for Freedom project, United States Lasma Kokorevica, representative of the Latvian prison administration Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess and leader of the FIDE Chess for Protection project, Australia Susan Namangale, Global Director of The Gift of Chess, Malawi Russell Makofsky, founder of The Gift of Chess Antonio Porter, Director of Programs at the Cook County Department of Corrections Prabitha Urwyler, Swiss Chess Federation board member responsible for Social Chess Hans Alther, prison chess educator and practitioner Structured around a series of guiding questions, the session will invite the speakers to share practical lessons, measurable outcomes and personal experiences from their work. Audience members will also have an opportunity to submit questions and take part in the discussion. Date: Monday, July 20, 2026 Time: 15:00 CEST Duration: One hour Format: Online panel discussion and live global broadcast Whether you organize an event, stage a game somewhere unexpected, join the online discussion or simply play with someone new, be part of International Chess Day 2026. On July 20, let us show the world not only where chess can be played, but also where chess can lead.