Episcopal High School will host two chess-related international events next month, including a student tournament featuring competitors from 47 countries and an education conference examining chess instruction in schools.
The 2025 FIDE World Schools Team Championship will run from August 2 to 7, with 350 student participants competing in the biennial tournament organized by the World Chess Federation. A separate Smart Moves Summit will take place on August 4-5, bringing together educators to discuss the integration of chess in curricula.
The summit is expected to attract 300 in-person attendees and over 1,000 online participants. Registration costs range from $120 for single-day access to $190 for both days.
Freedom Holding Corp. is sponsoring both events. Company founder Timur Turlov, who serves as president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, said chess develops critical thinking skills in young people.
The education conference will feature Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Latvia’s former Finance Minister and current FIDE Deputy Chair, discussing the integration of government chess programs. Other speakers include Robert Katende, founder of Uganda’s SOM Chess Academy and inspiration for Disney’s “Queen of Katwe.”
Conference sessions will cover chess instruction methods, educational technology applications, and funding strategies. The summit targets teachers, administrators, and policymakers.
This marks the first time the United States has hosted the FIDE Schools Tournament, which takes place every two years.
Registration and more information are available at worldschoolteam2025.fide.com.
