A first-of-its-kind digital museum dedicated to chess provides global access to FIDE’s archive, offering researchers and chess fans a curated look into the game’s evolution
As part of its 2024 centenary celebrations, FIDE has unveiled an online museum tracing chess history from ancient times to modern tournaments. The Open Chess Museum endorsed by FIDE aims to become the world’s largest repository of chess artifacts, showcasing valuable items from every corner of the world and every era of chess history.
For the first time, a full historical record of chess is freely available online—featuring rare, never-before-seen materials ranging from hand-annotated scoresheets to championship medals and personal artifacts of top players. The project also aims to highlight lesser-known facts and stories from the game’s past.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said the project offers “a closer, in-depth perspective on chess” and reflects “FIDE’s broader push towards digital engagement with the public.”
“Chess is one of the oldest and richest sports in history. Over centuries, countless books have been written about the game, the players, the events. Much of this is now available online—but what’s missing is a central, official reference point telling the full story of chess. The FIDE Online Chess Museum is exactly that: a place where you can find key information about the most significant events and the people who shaped the game,” said Dvorkovich.
“We hope the chess community—and those curious about the game—see the value in the resources now freely available to explore and enrich the sport,” he added.
Visitors navigate the museum through five thematic sections. The “Collection” segment includes photographs, handwritten letters, Olympiad posters, commemorative pins, and personal belongings from famous players—alongside historical documents and autographs.
The history section begins with a visual timeline showing all the key stages in the history of chess, up to 1913 and the first steps to create an international chess organization.
A dedicated segment traces FIDE’s history from early international efforts in 1913 to its evolution into the sport’s global authority. This part features high-quality photos and scans of documents based on which the chess world is organized and governed.
The “World Champions” part includes detailed biographies, annotated games, and key publications chronicling the careers and legacies of the game’s greatest players.
The project marks a milestone in chess historiography and signals FIDE’s renewed commitment to public engagement.
Following up on FIDE’s slogan – the game is just beginning – the Open Online Chess Museum aims to be a constantly evolving project. FIDE is inviting other collectors, galleries, national federations, clubs and players to join in and have their collections and artifacts also featured on the museum’s website.
The museum is free to access via the website museum.fide.com.