To mark International Chess Day 2025, FIDE and Lichess.org hosted a 24-hour global online blitz tournament as an open celebration of chess as a universal language. The response was overwhelming. More than 20,000 players joined the event, making it one of the largest social chess tournaments ever held.
In total, 20,078 players took part, playing 85,252 games and making over 5.5 million moves. The format was a 5+3 blitz, and players could join at any time throughout the 24-hour period, making the event truly global and inclusive.
This initiative was part of FIDE’s broader campaign for the Year of Social Chess, under the theme “Every Move Counts.” In keeping with that spirit, the event focused not on elite competition, but on connection, creativity, and community. As part of the celebration, hundreds of participants were randomly selected to receive prizes ranging from Olympiad invitations to training sessions with Grandmasters. The official prize draw was recorded and published (unlisted) on FIDE’s YouTube channel. You can watch it here.
Attending the 2026 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand
Five lucky participants have been awarded invitations to attend the opening ceremony and first round of the 2026 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, including two nights of accommodation:
- ikkkofa
- Trainingspa29
- Yatharth9680071234
- YBNVS
- GalimovaTS
FIDE Merchandise Vouchers
Ten participants won €100 vouchers to spend on official FIDE merchandise:
- Sabarish2015
- YarYar2015
- BubinN
- AlessandroLuzi
- smitil
- Luke-Adamson
- aymanelmaghraby
- Ghanem-Abd
- Jagma_is_baak
- k2h2
“Chess Players” Photography Books
Twenty participants will receive a copy of the “Chess Players” photography book, a visual celebration of the game and its people:
- mohamadketabi1364
- Diequin789
- fati-ma0
- Stralog
- HENKBATSBEK
- vridyunsvs
- CaganAlpp
- Raju_chess12
- Muhammadasaf
- northlondon1982
- gmmostafa_24
- Krishnay13
- Amirkhan100
- CBA4006IMANFAHIM
- TLTLTLTLTLTLT
- AaryanKov
- Liwatha
- Netodasilva
- Mandalorian99
- Himi99
Online Experiences with Grandmasters
1-on-1 Training with GM Lei Tingjie
Ekaaksh1
Motivational Talk with GM Nijat Abasov
Fifty participants were invited to a group session led by GM Abasov. The winners are:
- Emicy963
- mdrabby
- oshinilashini
- gulnar2025
- Michele_11
- pioneer2022
- greatgirish
- Aniel_S_C
- zakhria00
- Guransh700
- Erviss
- Mahadh
- KTL-DoanMinhTri2020
- apolonia_p
- Blauer_Lemming
- Cause_Complications
- Backspac50
- tejas_j
- yahyaaa_x7
- MortPudingov
- Slowhand86
- Yoyo743
- gilbertj1903
- Ahimalya_2025
- kuhan2015
- okeae123
- adrian_grino_24
- jzrivera_02
- rurupertoo
- AlexeyPersh
- Drake
- Jovil007
- originalRasputin
- shorespirit
- frietimo
- FalmadinO
- riceburner9
- Anshik_Master190
- royalyttrium
- JeronimoMarinD27
- Kingway
- highlander87
- Neftaly_cruz
- rumiek
- oVitall
- kerimduramaz_16
- MikeMcDonagh
- jude2015
- Intaz
- Schaakfanaat
Online Simultaneous Exhibitions with Grandmasters
The following participants were selected to play in online simuls with some of the world’s top players:
With GM Humpy Koneru
bhavyeshbalaj, Prihaan_porwal, Chri_Batista, akshayharish, SherlockHolmes73, monkeyflush, esmaikel23, Pluto2024, hectorPabloHernandez, Benja_Numis_Chile
With GM Praggnanandhaa
Yasamin-Mahdavipoor, MOHAMMAD1980A, franmaco, DenisNov, pipopopi, akpap, elmagnificocolcho, Grandmaster-sammy, borty10, krivble_ruki
With GM Vaishali Rameshbabu
kamilen7777, MEAT17, Aathvik, samriddhi07, DanPoki, Pepsiboyvaca, freakyCOACH1, Sibir72, diuberjesus14, hisforhenry
With GM Tan Zhongyi
Kuzmin_Roman, Sankhya, xylol, eduarss277, bhootbangla, nubwub, rockzalez, GorPetrosyan, Sanjeev, Ajodez
With GM Arjun Erigaisi
kostia_bk, Olga_0924, David1187, Legend1001, murrayhamilton75, swastik2015, Mestre_Dablo, mironNOV, Mr_Rare_Species, Sidkinracer
With GM Valentina Gunina (with lecture)
DavoodiMilad, D_A_N_I_Y_A_R, andoramia, Mike3774, Evanoblitz, Anas_Mohamed121212, trcnchess937945, Karaldo97, DM1978, EKAMDSINGH9
With GM Anish Giri
Jonisme, hossein2525, cercoterio, mukanovtimur2016, MISHKA-TURLOCK, Rdrchess, chamaragg, Nam_gyu, Nayan2283, Savyasachi2017
With WGM Anna Shukhman (with lecture)
csAram2015, Kavishrc, nizky, tajik5757, Gauravviiiii, hendrix_tonic, Libertad_dama, fort-knight, JordyBan, Aqilsilkroad
Game Analysis and Q&A with GM Anna Muzychuk
Twenty participants earned the opportunity to take part in a game review and Q&A session with GM Anna Muzychuk:
- amirreza_g7
- AkiroOnFire
- sussasun
- Raghavsingh2426
- brnvstrncyagmur
- avjd
- thaihung1532015
- JuwanJJK
- eduardillo
- Thesonucguy
- KokulskiAleksei
- Bobbyschrodinger
- rathodtushar
- iHaidi92
- flash_9110
- AlexStargazer
- ThatAdam
- mamzouj
- yoooi
- romanbier
This event was not about titles or final standings, but about participation and connection. It demonstrated that chess can unite people from every corner of the world.
To everyone who joined the tournament: thank you. Every move counts. And every one of you helped make it count on July 20.