Chess stars and officials gathered in Paris on International Chess Day – July 20 – as the chess world marked the centenary of the founding of the International Chess Federation (FIDE)

FIDE officials, including President Arkady Dvorkovich, Deputy Chair of FIDE’s Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola (who also heads the FIDE100 celebrations), FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky and FIDE Director for Chess Development Nigel Short, along with former world champions Vishy Anand, Zhu Chen, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and a host of other renowned players and chess officials from France and around the world, met in Paris for the central ceremony celebrating 100 years since the founding of FIDE.

On International Chess Day, FIDE also launched its Guinness World Record attempt for the most games played online and over-the-board in 24 hours. Over 109 national federations and major online chess platforms took part, with almost 350 events globally.

“This is a memorable day for the entire chess world. Our organization is among the oldest sporting bodies in the world. Over the past 100 years, FIDE has been the central driving force for the development of chess globally, and that remains one of our organization’s key goals. Today, we are not celebrating just the centenary of FIDE. We are also celebrating human strength, creativity, and innovation, which the chess world has been demonstrating since its early days,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE.

The celebrations started on the morning of July 20 with a walk to the historic 9th Arrondissement (City Council), the place where FIDE was founded in 1924. The guests – including representatives from nations who participated in the 1924 event – signed a replica of the original Memorandum of FIDE. From there, the guests proceeded to the famous Montmartre Cemetery where, among many well-known people from history, lies the final resting place of the great Alexander Alekhine (world champion between 1927-1935 and 1937-1946) and the founder of FIDE Pierre Vincent.

The guests then gathered at the Chateau de Asnieres, an 18th-century palace on the banks of the Seine, for a simul hosted by world champions as well as the official opening of the book “Chess Players, from Charlie Chaplin to the Wu-Tang Clan,” a collection of images of chess players from the last 130 years.

The central celebration of the day was the FIDE100 Torch Relay, which has been traveling the world for several months now, celebrating chess and creating a symbolic link between FIDE and the Olympic spirit. The ceremony took place at the Chateau de Asnieres, with the guests and FIDE officials welcoming the torch.

“I am delighted that we are having the Torch Relay ceremony in Paris, just a few days before the start of the Olympic Games. Throughout the year we have had celebrations across the globe – from India, to Africa, North and South America, places in Europe and now in Paris. The Torch Relay isn’t over, nor are our celebrations. We plan more events, including the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, and I am looking forward to all of them,” said Dana Reizniece-Ozola, who has been in charge of organizing the celebrations globally.

Photos: Niki Riga

On July 20, 1924, the last day of the Summer Olympics in Paris, 15 delegates from all over the world signed the proclamation act of what was originally known as “Fédération Internationale des Échecs” or “FIE” (shortly after the acronym was changed to “FIDE”). Symbolically, precisely a century later, the representatives of the same countries met in the Town Hall of the IX Arrondissement, Paris, where the original act was signed, and outlined FIDE’s goals for the next 100 years.

As we celebrate the first centenary of FIDE and its achievements, we – the below signed – also want to put forward the vision for the next 100 years of the International Chess Federation.

Our commitment is to advance chess, embracing its educational, cultural, intellectual and lifestyle benefits, ensuring it stands as a beacon of excellence, inclusivity and unity among the people of the world.

To this end, we want to put forward Ten Goals For The Next 100 Years Of The International Chess Federation.

1. Global Expansion and Accessibility

Chess should continue in its stride to reach every part of the globe – every major city, town, village, house or hut, every distant and remote place, including space. While chess is played by millions around the world, there are vast opportunities to increase the interest in and popularity of the game. In doing so, the chess world must always be guided by the principles of inclusivity, making sure everyone has enough opportunities and resources to learn and enjoy chess.

2. Digital Revolution

Chess should leverage technologies and the online revolution to make it more accessible online and more appealing to the coming generations, by emphasizing its practical value in real life. This includes more and better organized online tournaments, virtual coaching, interactive learning tools in as many world languages as possible, as well as creating online communities of chess players.

3. Educational Integration

As a useful tool for developing skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving, chess should seek to broaden and deepen its ties with educational institutions. Many countries have introduced chess in their educational system, but there are more which need to follow. For those countries where chess is taught as a subject, teaching materials and styles need to be further developed and integrated with the best scientific practices in education. Youth camps and scholastic tournaments and educational programs with Grandmasters should also be included.

4. Cultural Promotion

Chess has a rich history which has also led to the development of a distinguished subculture, attracting people from all walks of life and of all ages. The life, experiences and identities that are created around the chessboard serve as a cultural melting pot and a source for ideas and identities. As such, the cultural promotion of chess should be developed further and the game should seek to connect more with arts and sciences.

5. Innovation and Technology

Chess was the first sport and the ultimate testing field where human and machine intelligence squared off. The rapid progress of development and use of Artificial Intelligence in work and daily life is already having a large impact on the world and is likely to produce profound changes in the way we live our lives. Chess has already experienced this through the rise of the chess engines but AI brings new possibilities which the chess world should explore and seek to adapt to its needs – from AI-driven platforms providing personalized coaching and insights to players, to interactive learning, virtual-reality experiences, community building, to anti-cheating detection.

6. Inclusivity and Diversity

While the chess world has largely been in step with championing gender and identity equality and respect, this topic needs to always be at the forefront of any agenda or policy in the chess world. From getting more women to play chess and stay in the game professionally, to events for people with disabilities – chess must be a game for all, regardless of their age, abilities and background.

7. Environmental Responsibility

Chess events and chess players should contribute towards being responsible for the environment by promoting and practising environmentally friendly practices and values. FIDE activities – including tournaments and events – should be environmentally friendly, seek to highlight the importance of protecting the environment and aim to lower the carbon footprint.

8. Global Awareness

Use the popularity of chess and interest in the game to raise awareness of important global social and environmental issues and challenges such as climate change and encourage the chess community to take an active role in addressing these issues.

9. Strengthening of Governance and Ethics

As a growing international organization, FIDE should always seek to uphold the highest standards of governance, transparency and ethical behavior. This includes developing and maintaining a high standard of anti-cheating measures but also includes actively advocating ethical values and behavior.

10. Social Impact

In recent years, FIDE has spearheaded social initiatives aimed at helping and empowering those in need – from the Chess for Refugees program to Chess in Prison and projects focusing on mental health, among others. FIDE and the chess world should seek to actively develop, support and engage in similar projects which benefit society, at any level. The chess world should use its voice and reach to drive change for the better in society.

Commitment to the Future

As we celebrate the past, we look towards the future with hope and faith that chess can be a force for good in the world and a source of inspiration for people across the globe.

FIDE President
Arkady Dvorkovich

President of the Argentina Chess Federation
Mario Petrucci

President of the Royal Belgian Chess Federation
Laurent Wery

President of the Chess Federation of Canada
Vlado Drkulec

Delegate and International Director of English Chess Federation
Malcolm Pein

Delegate of the Royal Dutch Chess Federation
Vincent Geeraets

Representative of the Finnish Chess Federation
Jouni Lehtivaara

President of the French Chess Federation
Eloi Relange

President of the Hungarian Chess Federation
Zoltan Polyanszky-Tamasi

President of the Italian Chess Federation
Luigi Maggi

President of the Polish Chess Federation
Radoslaw Jedynak

President of the Romanian Chess Federation
Vlad Ardeleanu

Grandmaster, representative of Chess Federation of Slovakia, on behalf of former Chess Federation of Czechoslovakia
Lubomir Ftacnik

FIDE Honorary member, representative of Chess Federation of Slovenia on behalf of former Chess Federation of Yugoslavia
Boris Kutin

President of the Spanish Chess Federation
Fransisco Javier Ochoa de Echagüen

President of the Swiss Chess Federation
André Voegtlin

Today, on International Chess Day, we celebrate a century since the establishment of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs – FIDE, which took place here, in Paris, in 1924. During the past 100 years, FIDE has sought to safeguard, develop, and promote chess. From standardizing the game rules and tournament regulations to introducing the rating system, awarding titles, and organizing new events and competitions, FIDE has always been at the forefront of the chess world.

As we look towards the future, we should reflect on the remarkable journey of chess over the past 100 years, celebrated globally this year with the FIDE100 project. We honor the famous players and coaches and the remarkable individuals who helped build FIDE and unite the chess world. Thanks to their efforts, chess is now played by millions of people worldwide – from enthusiasts to professionals, both online and over the board, all sharing a passion for the game.

The achievements of the past century inspire us to aim higher and push harder to ensure that chess continues to thrive for generations to come.

May the next 100 years of FIDE bring more success for chess and even more chess to the world. Let us always remember and live by our motto: Gens Una Sumus – We Are One Family.

And finally – to celebrate International Chess Day, today we are organizing the Guinness World Records attempt – for most games played online and over the board in 24 hours. I hope you will join us and enjoy!

FIDE President
Arkady Dvorkovich

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You can find the video of this congratulatory speech on the FIDE YouTube Channel.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) proudly announces a series of awards to honor those who have made exceptional contributions to the world of chess in the past 100 years

The aim of the FIDE100 awards is to recognize individuals and organizations who have significantly impacted the development and promotion of chess globally over the past century.

The FIDE 100 Awards are aimed at different members of the chess community – players, arbiters, organizers, photographers, journalists, project leaders, authors, educators and others. By recognizing these contributions, FIDE wants to continue to support excellence and promote the cultural and intellectual values of chess worldwide.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said: “As we celebrate our centennial, we wanted to give recognition to those who have made chess what it is today and what it represents for the future. We hope that these awards will inspire future generations to take up chess and bring the game to new heights.”

The awards are given in 19 categories. Each category has a specified nomination and voting criteria.

Where applicable, nomination submissions can be made on the official website. The deadline for nominations is August 15, midnight, CET.

The awards will be presented in the following categories:

• Best Male Player
• Best Female Player
• Best Male Arbiter
• Best Female Arbiter
• FIDE Trainers’ 100 Years Award (male)
• FIDE Trainers’ 100 Years Award (female)
• Best Male Team
• Best Female Team
• Best Social Media Influencer
• Best Chess Journalist
• The Most Memorable FIDE Chess Tournament
• The Most Memorable Private Chess Tournament
• FIDE Book – 100 Years
• Best Photographer
• Best Educator
• Chess Social Impact
• Advocate for Women in Chess
• Inclusivity
• Presidential Award

Each category has specific qualification criteria, nomination procedures, and selection processes.

While some recipients will be chosen by a distinguished panel of chess grandmasters, historians, and educators, others will be determined through public voting. 

Self-nominations or nominations by national federations are open in several categories. They are:

Best Chess Journalist 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024-best-chess-journalist/

Best Photographer 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024-best-photographer/

Best Educator 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024-best-educator/

Chess Social Impact 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024-chess-social-impact/

Advocate for Women in Chess 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024-advocate-for-women-in-chess/ 

Besides, the best male and female players of all time will be chosen by a public vote. Voting for your favorite player is open via the following links:

Best Male Player 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024-best-male-player/

Best Female Player 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024-best-female-player/ 

The winners of the FIDE 100 Awards will be announced during the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest in September 2024.

For more information about the FIDE100 Awards and to submit nominations, please visit 100.fide.com/fide-awards-2024/.

The global celebration of FIDE’s centenary continues as the FIDE 100 Torch Relay arrives at the heart of the Romanian capital, Bucharest

Hosted by the Romanian Chess Federation, the ceremony saw dignitaries, chess players, and fans gather in celebration.

Romania, a formidable power in the chess world, will also mark the centenary of its own Chess Federation in 2025.

The ceremonial lighting of the torch included children from local chess clubs, coaches, and players, symbolizing the unifying spirit of the FIDE100 chess flame.

Attending the event on behalf of FIDE were Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board; Victor Bologan, FIDE Executive Director; Lukasz Turlej, Secretary General of the International Chess Federation; Michael Khodarkovsky, Vice President of FIDE’s Presidential Board; and Zurab Azmaiparashvili, President of the European Chess Union.

The list of special guests also included Elisabeta Lipă, President of the Romanian National Agency for Sport; Andrei Novac, Secretary of State within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Cătălin Stegariu, General Director of the General Directorate of Gendarmes of Bucharest; Toma Laurențiu, Head of the Department of Military and Sports Activities;  Cătălin Spirache, Chief Commissioner of Police and Deputy of the 1st District Police in Bucharest;  Eugen Gligan of Special Telecommunications Service; Octavian Schen, General Director of the State Mint; Vlad Ardeleanu, President of the Romanian Chess Federation and George Tuță,Elected Mayor of the 1st District in Bucharest.

Vlad Ardeleanu, President of the Romanian Chess Federation, expressed his gratitude to FIDE for including Bucharest in the centenary celebrations. He described the event as a “very touching and symbolic moment not only for chess but for sports in Romania.”

“It is wonderful that we as a country can gather so many important people and have many symbolic [chess] events happening here, in Romania,” Ardeleanu remarked. He also praised the efforts of the Romanian Chess Federation in promoting chess, stating, “We at the Romanian Chess Federation are trying to make chess a national movement.”

The FIDE Torch, a symbol of unity and celebration, has already travelled to Canada, Switzerland, India, Morocco, Ghana, and Colombia. Following Romania, the torch will proceed to Kazakhstan.

Photos: Niki Riga

On the morning of June 20, 2024, Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School (Shandong Province, China) hosted a series of events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the FIDE, including the “Campus Chess Tournament Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the FIDE and the First Campus Chess Tournament of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School.” The event was part of the 2024 “July 20 World Chess Day Chess Culture Festival.”

Attendees of the opening ceremony included Bian Chuanshun, Principal of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School; Zhang Huaifa, Head of the Mass Sports Department of Liaocheng Education and Sports Bureau; Li Huaying, Vice Principal of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School; Qiu Fengchun, Vice Principal of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School; Li Aiying, Principal of Songgui Road Campus of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School; Wang Jie, Secretary General of Liaocheng Chess Association; and more than 1,000 students from the first and second grades of the school.

On behalf of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School, Vice Principal Li Huaying extended a warm welcome to all the leaders and guests and sincerely congratulated all the participants. Principal Li stressed that Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School has always adhered to the educational philosophy of “focusing on the development of teachers and students, laying the foundation for national rejuvenation,” and pursues high-quality, distinctive, and modern education.

The school aims to cultivate innovative talents with a Chinese spirit and a global perspective, which is in line with the school motto, “Aspiration, Knowledge, Perseverance.” In the field of chess, a sport that emphasizes both wisdom and strategy, the school has raised Jiang Tianyu, the 2023 U15 World School Summer Games chess champion. 

Vice Principal Li also stated that on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the FIDE, the Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School had been selected as the representative for school chess activities in Liaocheng, which shows trust in us and tremendous encouragement for our future work. By hosting this campus tournament, we aim to promote the game of chess and enhance students’ logical thinking, competitive skills, and spirited sportsmanship.

Student representative Jiang Tianyu, the 2023 U15 World School Summer Games chess champion, also delivered an inspiring speech, encouraging her peers to pursue their dreams.

Representing the Liaocheng Education and Sports Bureau, section chief Zhang Huaifa congratulated the opening of the campus tournament. Zhang pointed out that we are honoured to celebrate the 100th anniversary of FIDE’s founding in 2024. The Federation has designated Liaocheng’s “July 20 World Chess Day Chess Culture Festival” as one of the global celebration venues. Today’s campus tournament is not only an important part of the culture festival and the centennial celebration of the World Chess Federation but also a crucial window and excellent opportunity to showcase the educational achievements of Liaocheng, especially in chess education, to the world. Zhang expressed special gratitude to FIDE and the Chinese Chess Association for their recognition and support of their work, congratulating Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School again.

Bian Chuanshun, principal of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School, announced the opening of the “Campus Chess Tournament Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the FIDE and the First Campus Chess Tournament of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School.” Together with section chief Zhang Huaifa, Principal Bian made the first move to inaugurate the competition, officially commencing the celebration. Principal Bian, Director Zhang, and other leaders and guests watched the matches and activities that followed.

In addition to the Campus Chess Tournament for first and second-grade students, the school held a “One vs. 100 Simultaneous Chess to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the FIDE.” During this event, Jiang Tianyu, the 2023 U15 World School Summer Games chess champion, played simultaneously against 100 students from the school’s middle school chess club.

The school also hosted a photo exhibition titled “100 Years of Major Events of the World Chess Federation.” This exhibition used pictures to showcase significant events since the Federation’s founding in 1924, helping students learn about the Federation’s century-long development and its advocacy for a culture of peace and inclusivity.

In addition to the three major events mentioned above, the school also organized various activities under the theme “Celebrating the Centennial of the World Chess Federation: Chess in My Heart.” Students waved colorful flags and ran freely around the campus, expressing their love for chess in various ways. They shared the joy, growth, and achievements brought by chess.

We are family！

The series of events, including the “Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of FIDE: Campus Chess Tournament and the First Campus Chess Tournament of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School” are part of the 2024 “July 20 World Chess Day Chess Culture Festival.” This festival is a microcosm of the ways chess enthusiasts in China and Liaocheng celebrate the centennial of the World Chess Federation. This year’s cultural festival serves as a sub-venue for the centennial celebrations of FIDE. The organizing committee has planned multiple high-level competitions at international, national, and provincial levels, engaging chess enthusiasts broadly. Additionally, various artistic performances rich in cultural significance and widely appealing to the public are scheduled. Several of these competitions have applied for Guinness World Records. Let’s look forward to the “July 20 World Chess Day Chess Culture Festival” cultural feast!

FIDE is proud to announce the arrival of the prestigious FIDE Torch Relay in Medellín, Colombia, as part of the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary. This momentous event coincided with the XVII Absolute Chess Championship of the Americas.

The torch relay, a symbol of unity and the spirit of chess, illuminated Medellín, known for its vibrant culture and nickname “the city of eternal spring.” The relay travelled to five iconic parks: the University of Antioquia, Jorge Eliecer Gaitán Park, Plazuela San Ignacio, Estadio Station, and Chess Park. Each park hosted a simultaneous chess exhibition featuring grandmasters and providing opportunities for community engagement and the promotion of chess.

Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board, Dana Reizniece-Ozola, assumed the role of torchbearer, passing the flame to Jose Carillo Pujol, Continental President for the Americas, FIDE Vice President Mario Ramirez Barajas, and Weymar Fernando Muñoz Muñoz, President of Colombian Chess Federation.

“Chess flame is travelling around the globe, sharing our passion for the game with people in all parts of the world. On the one hand, chess is the most royal and elite sport, on the other hand, it is also the most democratic one, played by people of different ages, genders and social statuses. In other places worldwide and here today we celebrate the universal character of the game,” Dana Reizniece-Ozola remarked.

The relay culminated at the Chess Park, a renowned chess venue in Latin America, with the official lighting of the FIDE Torch. This grand finale was accompanied by a small concert with traditional dances. 

The centenary festivities are followed by a series of chess tournaments, cultural tours, and executive meetings between FIDE, the Chess Confederation for the Americas (CCA), and the Colombian Chess Federation (FECODAZ). Highlights include simultaneous exhibitions by renowned Grandmasters Veselin Topalov, Alexei Shirov and Nikola Mitkov and a special event at La Pola Juvenile Prison.

The global FIDE Torch Relay has traveled the world to be a historic celebration of chess, fostering unity and enthusiasm for the sport. So far, it has been passed through India, Switzerland, Ghana, Canada, and Morocco, leaving a trail of excitement and unity in chess. After Colombia, it will set sail to Romania, where it will join two major events – the World School Team Chess Championship and the Grand Chess Tour. The Romanian leg of the Chess Torch Relay is scheduled for July 04.

The FIDE 100 Torch Relay, marking the centennial celebration of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is set to light up Latin America 

Following celebrations in India, Africa, Switzerland, Canada and Morocco, the FIDE100 Torch is making its way to Latin America. The nine-day event in Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, will bring together FIDE officials, players and chess fans from the continent.

The central ceremony will take place on May 26, when the Torch Relay will make its journey through five public parks in Medellin, all having a chess theme connected to them. The caravan will depart from the Chess Park (Antioquia Chess League) – the only park in Latin America designed specifically for chess. From there, the caravan will make its way to the University of Antioquia, continue to the Jorge Eliecer Gaitan Park and then move to the Plazoleta San Ignacio. The caravan will continue to the Plazoleta of the Estadio subway station before returning to the chess park, a landmark location for chess in Latin America.

The nine-day celebration will feature a classical chess tournament – the XVII Absolute Chess Championship of the Americas 2024. Organized by the Chess Confederation for America, the event is a part of the FIDE World Championship cycle and is open to all Chess Federations of the American Continent, featuring some of the best chess players from the Americas. In addition, there will be a Rapid and a Blitz tournament.

In addition, the former world champion candidate Veselin Topalov will do social chess activities in a Colombian prison, a pediatric hospital and chess schools of Medellin. Other prominent chess players participating in the events are GM Shirov (Spain) and the U20 junior world champion from Argentina Candela Francisco.

“It is a great honor for Colombia to be chosen as the Latin American host of the FIDE100 Torch Relay. Chess has an important place in our culture and a growing interest from the public, and this event will help promote the game further. Latin America has a prominent place in chess history so it’s only natural to have one of the torch ceremonies here. We are looking forward to welcoming the Torch and FIDE officials, and – for a few days – to take center stage in the chess world, celebrating 100 years of the International Chess Federation,” said Weymar Fernando Munoz, President of the Colombian Chess Federation.

 “We are proud that Colombia is part of our jubilee, and we are thankful for the event they have prepared. In recent years, Colombia and Latin America, in general, have seen chess grow in popularity, and it is only natural for FIDE to look for having more events and chess opportunities hosted in this part of the world,” said Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board.