The FIDE Social Commission celebrates International Chess Day with an interactive discussion to showcase chess as a tool for rehabilitation, protection, and development.
In celebration of the International Chess Day on July 20, the FIDE Social Commission will host an interactive online panel discussion titled “Chess as Social Value”. The event will bring together leading experts, policymakers, and practitioners to demonstrate how chess transcends the game to create tangible social change across the globe.
The panel features a distinguished lineup of speakers from diverse backgrounds, including former government ministers, programme builders, prison chess educators, and researchers. The panel includes:
- Dana Reizniece (Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board, Former Minister of Finance and Economy, Latvia) to discuss chess as a policy instrument;
- Mikhail Korenman (Leader of Chess for Freedom project, USA) to share the approach to leading a project from zero to structure;
- Lasma Kokorevica (Prison administration, Latvia) to highlight the power of chess for rehabilitation and dignity in detention;
- Anastasia Sorokina (Leader of FIDE Chess for Protection project, Australia) to speak of chess as a tool for nclusion and protection for refugees;
- Susan Namangale (Global Director of Gift of Chess, Malawi) on how to reach communities and improve access in various regions;
- Russell Makofsky (Founder of Gift of Chess) to share personal experience of impact and sustainability;
- Antonio Porter (Director of Programs, Cook County Department of Corrections) to discuss the system from within when administration meets culture;
- Prabitha Urwyler (Board member for Social Chess at Swiss Chess) to speak of chess impact measurement and innovation;
- Hans Alther (former politician) to share hands-on practice as personal commitment while teaching chess in prison.
The panel is deliberately designed to focus not on abstract theories but on real-world impact. This panel does not talk about chess; it talks about what chess makes possible – in prisons, schools, communities, ministries, and research labs.
The discussion will be structured around guiding questions, each designed to elicit concrete examples from the panelists’ direct experience.
The panel builds on FIDE’s commitment, declared in 2025 as the “Year of Social Chess,” to harness chess for social good. Recent initiatives showcased at the #SocialChess conference in Budapest highlight the game’s transformative power across diverse settings:
In Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, the Chess for Protection initiative has reached over 2,500 people in partnership with UNHCR, providing educational and social tools in challenging conditions.
The Chess for Freedom project, active at Cook County Jail and 60 other countries, has demonstrated significant behavioral improvements among inmates participating in chess coaching.
Chess for Elderly and recovery initiatives are exploring the therapeutic potential of the game for cognitive health, addiction recovery, and support for cancer patients.
As FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich emphasized, “Chess is more than a sport – it is a powerful social and educational tool. That is why FIDE takes it as its responsibility not only to promote chess competitions but to also make the game more available and accessible to everyone, everywhere.”
Event Details
Event: Panel Discussion: “Chess as Social Value”
Date: International Chess Day, July 20
Duration: 60 Minutes (interactive, with audience questions)
Moderated under the auspices of the FIDE Social Commission
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81383426889?pwd=u8DeBeUwSpQypbAap3aClZ0i4o1lxf.1