Let the Games Begin: World Schools Team Championship 2025 Kicks Off

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The World Schools Team Championship 2025 opened with a burst of color, energy, and excitement. Players from over 50 countries — including India, China, the United States, and Norway — proudly marched in the Parade of Nations.

The event officially began on August 3, 2025, in the historic city of Alexandria, Virginia. The venue, Episcopal High School, sits just outside Washington, D.C., offering a beautiful campus, modern facilities, and a rich tradition. It is the perfect setting for a tournament that promotes critical thinking, fair play, and global friendship.

A Celebration Under the Sun

Unlike many chess events held indoors, this opening ceremony took place outdoors. The stage was set on the grass lawn in front of the Hoxton House dormitory. Schools lined up in alphabetical order, each team holding their country’s flag with pride.

The ceremony host introduced the teams one by one. Upbeat music played in the background, and the crowd responded with enthusiastic applause. The U.S. national anthem played first, followed by the FIDE anthem, adding to the sense of unity.

Passing the Championship Flag

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich officially passed the championship flag to Timur Turlov, President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF). This symbolic handover marked the official transfer of event responsibility from FIDE to ISCF.

Dvorkovich praised the U.S. for hosting multiple major chess events in recent years. He thanked partners like Freedom Holding and Timur Turlov for their strong support of chess worldwide.

“Chess is a School of Life”

Timur Turlov spoke about the life lessons chess offers.

“Chess is more than a sport — it’s a way of thinking,” he said.
“It teaches discipline, decision-making, patience, and the ability to accept both victory and defeat with grace. As a father, I see how my children grow as thinkers through chess. We want more children across the globe to enjoy this beautiful game.”

With that, he declared the World Schools Team Championship 2025 open, sparking loud applause from the crowd.

Distinguished Guests and Future Hosts

The event drew leading figures from chess and academia, including:

  • Dr. Bill Poucher, Executive Director of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) and ACM Fellow.

  • Dana Reizniece, former Minister of Economics and Finance of Latvia, and current FIDE Deputy Chair.

Organizers also announced that applications are open to host the next championship. Interested chess federations, schools, or event organizers can submit proposals with venue details and a letter of intent to info@ischoolchess.com.

For more details:

Join the excitement in Washington, D.C. / Alexandria from August 2–7, 2025 — an unforgettable week of chess, friendship, and learning!

Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS

 

Warrior Chess Academy


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