Let the Games Begin: Celebrating the Start of the World Schools Team Championship 2025
The event commenced with the official transfer of ownership to the International School Chess Federation. The opening ceremony consisted of a grand parade showcasing over 50 participating nations including players from India, China, United States, and Norway.
The World Schools Team Championship 2025 will officially begin on August 3, 2025, in the historic city of Alexandria, Virginia. Located just outside Washington, D.C., Episcopal High School offers a beautiful campus with modern facilities and rich tradition, an ideal setting for a tournament that encourages critical thinking, fair play, and global connection. This event will bring together over 50 teams from around the world, uniting young chess players in a truly international competition.
The opening ceremony started with Parade of Nations. One by one, teams representing their respective countries entered the venue, each bearing their national flag, as the audience welcomed the young players with applause.
During ceremony, Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE, stepped away from the lectern as the championship flag was passed to Timur Turlov, President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF). With this symbolic gesture, stewardship of the World Schools Team Championship was formally entrusted to the ISCF, as Turlov stepped forward to lead a new chapter in the tournament’s legacy.
“Following the World Corporate and the World Rapid & Blitz, this is the third major global chess event we are hosting in the U.S. in just over a year and we hope to do more. We are eternally grateful to our partners, particularly Freedom Holding and Mr. Timur Turlov – for their generous support for chess globally, at all levels. And on this note, it my honour to formally entrust the International School Chess Federation with care and stewardship over the FIDE World Schools Team Championship,” – says Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE.
“Chess is not just a sport. It’s a way of thinking. It teaches discipline, decision-making, and the ability to see the consequences of your actions. It’s a game that shapes the kind of thinking every person needs – in life, in his or her career, in society. I say this not only as the head of a federation, but as a father whose children play chess. I see, game after game, how they learn to think, to be patient, to win – and sometimes to lose with dignity. Chess is a school of life. And we want more children around the world to have access to this beautiful game.” – says Timur Turlov, President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) during the ceremony.
Applications are now open to host the next World Schools Team Championship! National chess federations, educational institutions, and event organizers interested in hosting the tournament are invited to submit their proposals. Please include a description of the venue, infrastructure, and a letter of intent. All applications should be sent to: info@ischoolchess.com
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests and prominent figures from the global chess and academic communities. Among them were present Dr. Bill Poucher, Executive Director of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), ACM Fellow, and Professor of Computer Science at Baylor University, recognized for his decades-long contributions to computer science and innovation and Dana Reizniece, former Latvia's Minister of Economics and Minister of Finance, and current FIDE Deputy Chair. Their presence underscored the significance of the event and its role in shaping the future of scholastic chess worldwide.
For more information and the full program, please visit the official website of the Federation and follow our social media accounts – exciting, inspiring, and unforgettable moments lie ahead!
More information:
● Championship website: https://worldschoolteam2025.fide.com/
● Summit website: https://worldschoolteam2025.fide.com/summit/
● ISCF website: https://ischoolchess.com/
International School Chess Federation’s social media platforms:
● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ischoolchess?igsh=aTkzdWIwN215YXhi
● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19BgtfS7ji/?mibextid=wwXIfr
● X: https://x.com/ischoolchess?s=21
● YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ischoolchess?feature=shared
● Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-school-chess-federation/
General Partner: Freedom Holding Corp..
Join us in Washington, D.C. / Alexandria from August 2–7, 2025.
The event commenced with the official transfer of ownership to the International School Chess Federation. The opening ceremony consisted of a grand parade showcasing over 50 participating nations including players from India, China, United States, and Norway.
The World Schools Team Championship 2025 will officially begin on August 3, 2025, in the historic city of Alexandria, Virginia. Located just outside Washington, D.C., Episcopal High School offers a beautiful campus with modern facilities and rich tradition, an ideal setting for a tournament that encourages critical thinking, fair play, and global connection. This event will bring together over 50 teams from around the world, uniting young chess players in a truly international competition.
The opening ceremony started with Parade of Nations. One by one, teams representing their respective countries entered the venue, each bearing their national flag, as the audience welcomed the young players with applause.
During ceremony, Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE, stepped away from the lectern as the championship flag was passed to Timur Turlov, President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF). With this symbolic gesture, stewardship of the World Schools Team Championship was formally entrusted to the ISCF, as Turlov stepped forward to lead a new chapter in the tournament’s legacy.
“Following the World Corporate and the World Rapid & Blitz, this is the third major global chess event we are hosting in the U.S. in just over a year and we hope to do more. We are eternally grateful to our partners, particularly Freedom Holding and Mr. Timur Turlov – for their generous support for chess globally, at all levels. And on this note, it my honour to formally entrust the International School Chess Federation with care and stewardship over the FIDE World Schools Team Championship,” – says Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE.
“Chess is not just a sport. It’s a way of thinking. It teaches discipline, decision-making, and the ability to see the consequences of your actions. It’s a game that shapes the kind of thinking every person needs – in life, in his or her career, in society. I say this not only as the head of a federation, but as a father whose children play chess. I see, game after game, how they learn to think, to be patient, to win – and sometimes to lose with dignity. Chess is a school of life. And we want more children around the world to have access to this beautiful game.” – says Timur Turlov, President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) during the ceremony.
Applications are now open to host the next World Schools Team Championship! National chess federations, educational institutions, and event organizers interested in hosting the tournament are invited to submit their proposals. Please include a description of the venue, infrastructure, and a letter of intent. All applications should be sent to: info@ischoolchess.com
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests and prominent figures from the global chess and academic communities. Among them were present Dr. Bill Poucher, Executive Director of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), ACM Fellow, and Professor of Computer Science at Baylor University, recognized for his decades-long contributions to computer science and innovation and Dana Reizniece, former Latvia's Minister of Economics and Minister of Finance, and current FIDE Deputy Chair. Their presence underscored the significance of the event and its role in shaping the future of scholastic chess worldwide.
For more information and the full program, please visit the official website of the Federation and follow our social media accounts – exciting, inspiring, and unforgettable moments lie ahead!
More information:
● Championship website: https://worldschoolteam2025.fide.com/
● Summit website: https://worldschoolteam2025.fide.com/summit/
● ISCF website: https://ischoolchess.com/
International School Chess Federation’s social media platforms:
● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ischoolchess?igsh=aTkzdWIwN215YXhi
● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19BgtfS7ji/?mibextid=wwXIfr
● X: https://x.com/ischoolchess?s=21
● YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ischoolchess?feature=shared
● Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-school-chess-federation/
General Partner: Freedom Holding Corp..
Join us in Washington, D.C. / Alexandria from August 2–7, 2025.
