From Paris and the world with chess: FIDE celebrates 100 years since its founding
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
Ten goals for next 100 years of International Chess Federation
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 PresidentArkady Dvorkovich President of the Argentina Chess FederationMario Petrucci President of the Royal Belgian Chess FederationLaurent Wery President of the Chess Federation of CanadaVlado Drkulec Delegate and International Director of English Chess FederationMalcolm Pein Delegate of the Royal Dutch Chess FederationVincent Geeraets Representative of the Finnish Chess FederationJouni Lehtivaara President of the French Chess FederationEloi Relange President of the Hungarian Chess FederationZoltan Polyanszky-Tamasi President of the Italian Chess FederationLuigi Maggi President of the Polish Chess FederationRadoslaw Jedynak President of the Romanian Chess FederationVlad
Happy International Chess Day!
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 PresidentArkady Dvorkovich You can find the video of this congratulatory speech on the FIDE YouTube Channel.