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.
UPD. Due to an incorrect file of prize draw participants initially provided by the platform, the first prize selection was carried out among those who were not eligible to participate in it. Once the error was identified and FIDE obtained a corrected file of prize draw participants, we have conducted a prize redraw in full compliance with the regulations.
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:
- Yatharth9680071234
- legendaandivan
- Barinjaka
- Andrii_Nikolenko
- GalimovaTS
FIDE Merchandise Vouchers
Ten participants won €100 vouchers to spend on official FIDE merchandise:
- Denis2909
- Dnyanesh1303
- Timila
- CCY-OFICIALL-ACC666
- avtarsingh86
- CalebtalleyALT
- mahmod07777
- XAJIK
- Jagma_is_baak
- ejderha35
“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:
- adzag
- MihailSandykov
- Serg80
- baazbahadur
- HENKBATSBEK
- Jae_Ftg
- Darkstar108
- Thiago_BRC
- mashariki_1
- Turaarrr
- Mehmet_Tirane
- Krishnay13
- HiradShahbazi88
- CBA4006IMANFAHIM
- TLTLTLTLTLT
- AaryanKov
- Ptahotep
- denizefe34
- Mandalorian99
- xilefkerl
Online Experiences with Grandmasters
1-on-1 Training with GM Lei Tingjie
- ALITA20
Motivational Talk with GM Nijat Abasov
Fifty participants were invited to a group session led by GM Abasov. The winners are:
- No55gaming
- Diamantesco
- SMKN30
- vincents82
- Michele_11
- Darrennswana
- ysxy512
- IvanKaramazov123
- Brilliant_Machine
- NareshDusa
- williebob
- Cybernautilus
- poxay
- Blue_Commander
- Godspower16
- VincFrancisco_Bacoor
- dumDudum
- Favian_2889
- fjcufujfhxhzd
- Cvillarino22
- dimitris1
- Eidan1803
- MZM10
- Ahimalya_2025
- Spitzwegerich_1
- lolomezzo
- A-prox-mate
- MungiwaraNoGoofy
- Leilin2004
- B342
- fcvomond
- NoahCizdziel
- CARLA8787
- Mikhail_P
- Lotta14
- uditbkp123
- magnussen0
- daydreamerfun
- AluDilu
- pietrek_c
- DIgor1706
- Kollagogom2
- abhinavsreejith2012
- Threee_Move_Wonder
- maniatul
- Zhendosik_sigma
- theonlywayusmate27
- Bart1815
- Yurij291212
- shivanshwins
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
Ps1803, Prihaan_porwal, Inumaki_toge, SayeedHazim, THUNDER_1102, JagaranA1, jens_g, Alejandritok7vell, Patzekatze, tryandprepme
With GM Praggnanandhaa
lipson4u, Asia_1345, franmaco, DenisNov, pipopopi, akpap, elmagnificocolcho, Grandmaster-sammy, hareramj, pratsfares
With GM Vaishali Rameshbabu
kamilen777, MEAT17, Aathvik, franciscocodoceo, DanPoki, Pepsiboyvaca, Sweetlake, Sashka228, diuberjesus14, hisforhenry
With GM Tan Zhongyi
CATF41, frankfreith, kashalot138, Sameer-AlSayed-2010, bhootbangla, ManqayiVuyo, Mohsen_Dj, LEZGIN-05, mukyducky, marcochess2021
With GM Arjun Erigaisi
hetman1968, s_titan1388, Ankalk, Legend1001, RY6973, WMANIMSARA, marranin, Sanubcg, Boldoo1, pra777
With GM Valentina Gunina (with lecture)
amitgond, Ultra_Instinct2008, DrPurgerstein-2008, Terellel, RL1122, mathbro, NikTash, Magnusthelegendary, Sigma_001, EKAMDSINGH9
With GM Anish Giri
JohnHiggins98, brauberg25, TowelaKaira, akm133, MathiasSanchez_UDEP, alexlamoc, easy_Win_lol, AbardomVladimir dmare, The_god_of_chess_001
With WGM Anna Shukhman (with lecture)
Xaviersuper, Kavishrc, Rumochka_master, Herzatimer, Gauravviiii, Basher-Ghazal, sianbeaz, Vombrabro, Cxb451, migs423
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.