Inside the 2026 World Schools Team Championship: Chess in Classrooms Across Continents

The 2026 FIDE–ISCF World Schools Team Championship marks a bold new chapter in scholastic chess. For the first time, the competition has adopted a multi-continent format, with continental qualifying stages in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, culminating in a Grand Final later this year.

More than just a tournament, the championship is building a global school chess ecosystem that combines education, international exchange, and the development of young talent. With the backing of major partner Freedom Holding Corp., the event is placing chess firmly within the educational journey of schoolchildren worldwide.

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How the Championship Works

The World Schools Team Championship distinguishes itself from most youth tournaments by focusing on team performance rather than individual achievement. Each team consists of four main players and one reserve, with a requirement that both boys and girls are represented. Success depends on the preparation of the entire squad, the work of the coach, and the support of the school community.

The 2026 cycle features four continental stages, each producing one champion school that qualifies directly for the Grand Final in December. This format was designed to involve more schools and countries than ever before. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich reflected on the growth: “When we started the World Schools Team Championships a couple of years ago, we were experimenting a bit… Now we are confident that in the end we’ll have more than 100 countries competing, which is exciting.”

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Continental Stage Results

Asian Continental Stage – Almaty, Kazakhstan (April 2026)

The championship cycle began in Almaty, bringing together 114 young players aged 8 to 14 from 19 countries. The tournament was held at the Hotel Kazakhstan, at the foot of the snowy peaks of the Zailiysky Alatau, and featured not just competition but also masterclasses, educational sessions, and a cultural program showcasing Kazakh hospitality.

Wisdom School from Tashkent, Uzbekistan claimed victory with 16 match points, securing their place in the Grand Final. The top Kazakh team, SEED Uniker School from Astana, finished fourth.

African Continental Stage – Stellenbosch, South Africa (July 2026)

Held in Africa for the first time, the African Continental Stage took place at the Coetzenburg Center in Stellenbosch, South Africa, bringing together 26 school teams from 22 countries. The tournament featured an eight-round Swiss system with a time control of 45 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move.

Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School from Uganda were crowned African continental champions after completing the tournament without losing a match. Their final record stood at six match wins, two draws, and a tournament-best 24½ game points. Kenya’s Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School took silver, while the host nation celebrated as Welgemoed Primary School secured bronze. All three teams qualified for the Grand Final in December.

The tournament was notable for the large number of unrated participants—91 out of the total—competing on an international stage for the first time. The event also featured workshops, lectures, chess quizzes, and cultural events alongside the competition.

One of the most memorable moments came at the opening ceremony, where officials set protocol aside and instead read letters written by young players from previous stages. One young participant wrote: “Don’t be afraid if you and your opponent don’t speak the same language. In chess, you can understand each other without words – after the first move!”

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Looking Ahead: The Americas and Europe

The championship cycle continues with the Americas Continental Stage in San José, Costa Rica, from August 11 to 16, 2026. This will be followed by the European Continental Stage in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia, from September 28 to October 3, 2026.

The European stage, organized jointly with the Armenian Chess Federation and the European Chess Union, will follow the same team format, with each team comprising four main players and one reserve, and at least one boy and one girl. Eligible players must be born between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2018.

Registration for the European stage closes on August 28, with organizer support available for the first 20 fully registered teams.

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Building a Global Chess Community

ISCF President Timur Turlov emphasized the importance of the team format: “I think it’s very human to team up, and only as a community can we build some great things… If the whole team is great, if the whole school is great, that creates much better opportunities for development.”

The championship is supported by Freedom Holding Corp., the Nasdaq-listed fintech group founded by Turlov. The company is expected to allocate $1.5 million to the World Schools Team Championship and its partnership with the ISCF in 2026, with total investment in chess over the past three years reaching $75 million.

As the championship continues its journey across continents, its impact extends far beyond trophies and medals. It can be seen in the confidence children gain, the international experience they receive, and the opportunities that open up when school chess is treated not simply as a game, but as part of a broader educational journey.