A major event in August bringing together school children, chess players, thought leaders and scientists set to transform how chess is perceived in the classroom
The second edition of the World School Team Championship, a flagship event for school chess clubs, runs from 2 to 7 August at Episcopal High School – just 11 kilometers from downtown Washington D.C. More than 50 teams from different countries will compete in an eight-round Swiss-format tournament.
“This will be one of the largest global children’s tournaments ever organized. With Freedom Holding covering all travel and accommodation, young players from across the globe will enjoy an experience that extends well beyond the board. Paired with the Smart Moves Summit on chess in education, this marks a milestone for scholastic chess and its role in childhood development,” said Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE.
Each team is fielding four main players, one reserve and one non-playing captain. Time control is 45 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move, with two games per day across four action-packed days.
The inaugural edition of the World School Teams was held in Kazakhstan in 2023, laying the groundwork for this year’s expanded format. The 2025 event integrates competitive play with a major educational conference featuring scientists and experts in chess, learning, and life skills development.
“The World Schools Team Championship is more than just a tournament – it’s a celebration of intelligence, unity, and the limitless potential of young minds. Bringing together teams from around the world, this event is a powerful example of how chess transcends borders and cultures. It helps develop critical thinking, resilience, and focus – skills essential for the 21st century,” said Timur Turlov, President of the International School Chess Federation.
On 4-5 August, the Smart Moves Summit 2025 will bring together educational experts from over 30 countries, to discuss scientific research and showcase proven strategies on the role of chess in reshaping education and wellbeing.
“As Artificial Intelligence reshapes every sector, educators and parents must find ways to equip students and children with critical thinking and resilience reflective of the 21st century challenges. This Summit brings together experts to share proven strategies,” Emil Sutovsky added.
Spread across 15 sessions featuring panels, workshops, speeches and round-table debates, the conference will offer a host of fresh ideas and stimulating discussions across science, education and learning.
It will deliver actionable conclusions and toolkits, to kicks-start the scale of school chess programs and using chess as a tool for self-improvement and personal development in both children and adults.
“The Smart Moves Summit is a powerful reminder that education isn’t confined to classrooms: it lives in the lessons of strategy, patience, and foresight that chess teaches. By investing in this timeless game, we’re nurturing the minds of future leaders and empowering children with the tools to shape a smarter, more resilient world,” added Timur Turlov.
Panels, round tables and master classes – What you will get from the Summit.
Strategic Leadership in Global Chess Education
Brings together FIDE, national federations and partners to discuss long-term strategy, cross-sector collaboration and visionary leadership for global chess education.
Chess in Early and Primary Education
Examines how introducing chess in preschool and primary settings supports executive functioning, emotional regulation, numeracy, language skills and social learning in inclusive, multilingual classrooms.
More Than Equal – Levelling the Board for All Through Chess:
Reviews global case studies on using chess to advance equity across gender, socio-economic status, ability and geography, moving from mere access to genuine agency.
Tech on the Board
Explores how digital platforms, tools and devices are transforming student engagement and learning through chess both inside and outside the classroom.
Making the Case for Chess – Methodology, Policy, and Public Sector Partnerships:
Looks at aligning chess-based learning methodologies with public education goals to build large-scale, lasting collaborations between chess organizations and government bodies.
Chess + Math – Cognitive Games for Early Numeracy:
A Master Class showing how to structure short, chess-based exercises tailored for early mathematics learners.
Chess & Strategy Games
Provides scalable, classroom-tested models that equip pre-service and in-service teachers with the skills and confidence to use chess and strategy games for cognitive development and interdisciplinary learning.
The Power of Chess to Change Lives
A case-study presentation, detailing how a chess program helped intellectual and social development among low-income youth.
Sponsorship and Marketing at the Crossroads of Chess and Education
Discusses how brands and organizations can sponsor school chess programs to support their growth while delivering value to partners.
From Classroom to Cashflow – The Business of School Chess Programs
Analyzes how to build financially viable, pedagogically sound frameworks that sustain and scale school-based chess initiatives.
Going Viral – How Social Media and Creators Are Redefining Chess Promotion (Cyber sport, Minecraft, Roblox)
Investigates how social media, streaming platforms and digital influencers are reshaping the perception and reach of chess worldwide.
Beyond the Final Move
Reflects on lessons learned in school integration, technology use, partnership building and educational impact, and identifies urgent opportunities and challenges ahead.
How to Train the Trainer
Shares methods for teaching chess in classrooms with neurodiverse learners and multiple language groups.
Inclusive Chess Environments
Techniques for teaching in neurodiverse, multilingual classrooms.
A Statistical Spectroscope for Fair Play and Growing Minds
Explores how analytics can reveal patterns in chess play to support ethical competition and cognitive development.
Visit worldschoolteam2025.fide.com/summit for full details and to secure your seat.
Early-bird pricing ending soon!