The Asian Continental Stage of the World Schools Team Championship 2026 concluded in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with Wisdom School (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) claiming victory and securing a berth in the Grand Final scheduled for December 2026. The top Kazakh team, SEED Uniker School (Astana), finished fourth.
Organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Akimat of Almaty – with Freedom Holding Corp as General Partner – the tournament took place from April 7-10, 2026 at the Kazakhstan Hotel. It brought together 114 young players aged 8 to 14 from 19 countries, competing in an 8-round Swiss system with a time control of 45 minutes plus a 10-second increment.
The entire event embraced a space theme in honour of Cosmonautics Day on 12 April. On the final day, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and Kazakh cosmonaut and National Hero of Kazakhstan Aydyn Aimbetov made the ceremonial first move – a symbolic gesture highlighting the shared values of chess and space exploration: strategic thinking, teamwork, and the pursuit of new horizons.
“This tournament has become a true example of the promising future of chess on our continent and the potential of educational systems. We all understand and value the importance of education, especially at the school level. In FIDE, 2026 has been declared the Year of Chess in Education, and school team championships hold a special place among the key events of this initiative. This year, numerous conferences, seminars, and tournaments are taking place, all dedicated to promoting the positive role of chess in early development,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
Final standings (average rating in parentheses):
- Wisdom School (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) (2024) – 16 match points
- Kurchatov School (Moscow, Russia) (2275) – 14
- Velammal MHS School (Chennai, India) (1908) – 12
- SEED Uniker School (Astana) (2023) – 10 (EMGSB – 141)
- Bashu Secondary School (Chongqing, China) (1722) – 10 (132)
- RFMSH (Almaty) (1676) – 10 (116)
- Maliyadeva College (Kurunegala, Sri Lanka) (1602) – 10 (95)
- Bolovsrol Secondary School (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) (1616) – 9
- ACG Sunderland (Auckland, New Zealand) (1834) – 8 (157)
- Lyceum School No. 173 (Almaty) (1818) – 8 (143)
In case of a tie, Extended Direct Encounter (EDE) was applied first, followed by EMGSB (Extended Sonneborn-Berger).
In addition to team awards, gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded to the best players on each board (based on performance percentage). Among them were two Kazakhstani juniors.
The closing ceremony on 10 April at the Kazakhstan Hotel featured distinguished guests including FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Minister of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhuldyz Suleimenova, Deputy Akim of Almaty Nurlan Abdrakhim, and President of the International School Chess Federation and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation Timur Turlov.
“The Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has identified the formation of an intellectual nation as one of the country’s key strategic priorities. Today’s tournament clearly demonstrates the consistent implementation of this policy. Chess has firmly entered both the academic curriculum and extracurricular activities, becoming an important part of the modern school environment. It develops strategic and logical thinking and strengthens discipline among young people,” said Minister Zhuldyz Suleimenova. She also noted the successful implementation of the “Chess in Education” program in partnership with the Kazakhstan Chess Federation.
The ceremony included a performance by Junior Eurovision participant Karakat Bashanova. During her song, the lights were turned off, and the audience raised LED bracelets, creating a sky of hundreds of glowing “stars.” Organizers emphasized: “If stars are lit, it means someone needs them,” symbolizing that every child present is a future star.
The event culminated in a symbolic handover to Africa – the next continental stage – marked by a countdown and hundreds of paper airplanes launched by the audience.
“Kazakhstan is building open and friendly connections with the world,” said Timur Turlov. “I hope our tournament has contributed to this process. We are very glad that our international guests experienced genuine Kazakh hospitality and discovered Almaty. I believe the connections formed here will stay with these young players for years to come.”
Two memorandums were also signed during the event. The first established cooperation between FIDE and Freedom Holding Corp., providing additional support for national federations and chess initiatives worldwide. The second memorandum was signed between the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and the Kyrgyz Chess Union.
The Akimat of Almaty provided significant support in hosting the tournament, ensuring comfortable conditions for young players from 19 countries.
Full results: https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1387968.aspx
Photos: World Schools Team Championship
Official website: https://worldschoolteam2026.fide.com/