BUILDING THE FUTURE THROUGH CHESS AND EDUCATION AT WSTC 2025
At the beginning of August 2025, the World Schools Team Championship (WSTC) will take place in the heart of the U.S., where young chess talents from school chess teams worldwide will compete for the title of World Schools Team Champion. This year, the prestigious international competition will host the Smart Moves Summit, a unique education conference that explores how chess enhances learning and cognitive development in schools.
WSTC 2025
The World Schools Team Championship, organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in collaboration with the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) and supported by Freedom Holding Corp., will take place on August 2–7, 2025 at Episcopal High School near Washington D.C. Dozens of school teams from all the continents are registered to participate in this event.
The tournament will be played over 8 rounds. Each team will consist of four main players from the same school, mixed ages, one reserve, and one non-playing captain. The event will follow a Swiss format with each team fielding multiple players per round and no players eliminated (e.g., 4 boards per match). The time control is 45 minutes + 10 seconds per move.
This is another significant step in FIDE’s long-term commitment to expanding global outreach for chess in schools and unique international competitions.
How It All Started
This year’s championship marks the second edition of the WSTC, which was held two years ago. The inaugural tournament, organized by FIDE, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, and Freedom Holding Corp., took place in Aktau, Kazakhstan, in August 2023.
Its success led to the decision to continue the competition. For this purpose, the International School Chess Federation was launched in September 2024 as an affiliated body of FIDE. Timur Turlov, the CEO of Freedom Holding Corp. and president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, was appointed Head of ISCF. Since then, the Federation has been in charge of championships, integrating chess into school systems worldwide, organizing a global network of chess schools, and promoting chess as a lifelong skill.
Chess and learning
The connection between chess and education is deep and enriching. Chess is increasingly being used as a tool to enhance students’ cognitive, academic, social, and emotional development.
It builds confidence and critical thinking skills, improves memory and creativity, and teaches patience, respect, and responsibility. The game also promotes risk assessment and strategic planning. Overall, chess not only leads to deeper learning at school but also to future professional success and is a universal language of learning and growth.
That’s why this year’s World Schools Team Championship encompasses not only the chess competition itself, but also, for the first time, a unique international Smart Moves Summit – the conference highlighting the importance of chess in education.
The Smart Moves Summit
The Summit will take place on August 4–5. Among the participants are school leaders, researchers, edtech innovators, chess-related businesses, marketing partners, officials, and many other chess enthusiasts from over 20 countries. They will share insights, case studies, chess learning tools and platforms, and future-forward ideas on how chess can shape learning environments and empower students through the lectures of renowned speakers, experience exchange, practical teacher training, interactive panels, etc.
“We wanted to go beyond simply organizing another chess tournament for children. Our goal was to bring together schoolteachers and experts from around the world to share their experiences and enhance their chess programs with fresh approaches and ideas. This parallel program ensures that coaches, parents, and guests also have a meaningful and enriching experience while their teams compete,” says Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., President of the International School Chess Federation and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation.
Speakers include the renowned chess educator and journalist FIDE Master Leontxo Garcia; the psychologist and chess education expert, FIDE Senior Trainer Jose Francisco Suarez; the Chairman of the UE Education Commission, John Foley; the Chairman of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission, Jerry Nash, and others.
“We are not just talking about chess; we are talking about the future of education, thinking, and international cooperation. The summit will be a place where ideas are born, connections grow stronger, and real progress begins”, notes Mr. Turlov.
