The 2025 World Schools Team Championship took place at Episcopal High School — just 11 kilometers from downtown Washington, D.C. — from August 3–7, bringing together over 50 teams from six continents. For the first time in the history of the competition, it featured innovative idChess technology for real-time game broadcasting to chess fans around the world.
idChess enables live game broadcasting on any chessboard using only a smartphone: phones are mounted on tripods beside the boards, and games are automatically converted into PGN format through computer vision and AI technologies. The platform also supports VAR — a video assistant for chess — helping arbiters make informed decisions in controversial situations. In July 2023, FIDE announced the adoption of idChess VAR at international tournaments, marking a new approach to officiating and ensuring fair play while providing players, coaches, and fans with richer content and deeper insight into games.
Another notable feature is the automatic creation of video highlights. Trained on millions of chess games, the idChess neural network identifies and marks the best moves and combinations. The platform then generates short video clips, which tournament organizers can publish on their page on the idChess Media Platform. Watch the games of the World School Team Championship here.
“The World Schools Team Championship is not only a celebration of young chess talents but also a platform for innovation,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
“By integrating idChess into this year’s event, we are setting a new standard in how youth competitions are run and experienced around the world. It reflects our commitment to making chess more accessible and engaging, especially for the next generation.”
idChess technology is now used at tournaments in more than 150 countries, including national championships, international opens, school competitions, and regular chess club meetings. The platform is recognized for its simplicity, requiring only smartphones, tripods, and a stable internet connection.
For organizers, idChess offers a fast and affordable way to enter the world of digital broadcasting. Schools and federations can adopt the system with minimal technical training, opening new possibilities for promotion, engagement, and game review. Organizers can submit a request to receive free access to a tournament organizer account.
idChess official website: idchess.com/