FORUM: ‘‘Play chess regularly.” World Chess Day 2025. Chess is more than a game—it’s a tool for healing, growth, and rebuilding. Throughout July, we’re sharing inspiring stories and best practices that show how chess can support recovery from addiction, cognitive challenges, and serious illness. Last year, we have celebrated a century since the establishment of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs – FIDE, which took place here, in Paris, in 1924. During the past 101 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 years, celebrated globally, 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. Please share this call to action with your regional federations and chess clubs, and encourage them to share their experience on social media using the hashtags: #WorldChessDay, #Chess, #20july, so their actions can inspire others.
EVENTS: To mark the World Chess Day 2025, the FIDE organizes online and hybrid events and implements new technological solutions. In 2023 chess became part of the Olympic Esports Series. The International Chess Federation has come a long way since its first steps a century ago. For July 20th, we’ve planned a few special activities to make the day a little bit more special—and you can join in on the fun; Read on to find out what we’ve got planned. The Chess Olympiad is one of FIDE's flagship events. The Olympiad is a team competition where countries are represented by their four best players. The Olympiad reached record participation, with 186 nations represented in the open competition, plus 160 more in the Women's Olympiad. International Chess Day Activities for 2025 are the 24-Hour Marathon Arena; The Community Streamer Program; The 2025 Bullet Chess Championship (BCC), The Chessable Festable Festival. Explore all activities and the calendar of events!
On July 25th, 2025, starting at 18:00 CET. The Special author session: A Wizard’s Guide to Family Recovery; Join us for a powerful conversation with Lance Wilson, author and mental health advocate. Lance will share how chess became a source of strength and meaning during his personal journey—and how it helped shape his book’s message of hope and healing. The Key topics are: How chess supported his recovery from trauma; The Key takeaways from his book, grounded in lived experience and How the game can guide us through life’s toughest moments. Whether you’re a coach, therapist, educator, or simply curious, these sessions offer new tools, powerful stories, and renewed hope. We look forward to welcoming you. Register to participate!
STATEMENT: Read the full Message from Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President on International Chess Day 2025.
My dear chess friends, to you, to all who love our game, happy International Chess Day, today we celebrate it as we continue to develop chess all across the world. And I hope that both today and every day you'll get a chance to play and also to show how to play to your friends, to those who didn't enter our chess community yet. So let's do it together and let's do it again every day. This day I would like to stress that we have been committed fully to bring chess uh all across the globe to all corners of our beautiful world from big tournaments where top masters, top grand masters play for the prizes and we continue to increase the prices. We continue to have more and more events. But this year is special. We dedicated it to social chess, to the impact that chess can make in all area of our social life, in all our communities. Bring chess to the classrooms, bring chess to community halls, to refugee camps, even to prison cells everywhere. We show what impact can the 64 square board make on people, how we can improve lives, how we can make sure that people learn something from chess and become better. So at these days I call you to continue those initiatives not only this year but for all the future years to come. Again happy international chess day and let's do all those things together. On this special day, we wish a very Happy International Chess Day to all who love and live the game — and calls on the world to keep playing, teaching, and growing our global chess family every day.
Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President.
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