The United Nations (UN’s) World Chess Day, also known as International Chess Day, is annually observed across the globe on 20 July to celebrate chess as one of the oldest and most intellectual games, recognizing its role in promoting education, peace, inclusion, and global cooperation across cultures.
- The day commemorates the founding of FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs / International Chess Federation) on 20th July 1924 in Paris, France.
- 20th July 2025 marks the 101st anniversary of the establishment of FIDE (FIDE 101).
Theme:
The theme for World Chess Day 2025 is “Every Move Counts”, emphasizes the importance of thoughtful decision-making both on the chessboard and in life.
Background:
i.The idea of celebrating International Chess Day was first proposed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
ii.Since 1966, under the initiative of FIDE, 20th July has been observed globally by chess players as International Chess Day.
iii.On 12th December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/74/22, officially proclaiming 20th July of every year as World Chess Day.
- The resolution was introduced by Armenia and co-sponsored by 52 other countries.
iv.The first UN-recognised World Chess Day was officially observed on 20th July 2020.
2025 Events:
i.To mark World Chess Day 2025, the FIDE, in collaboration with Lichess.org, an open-source chess server, hosted the largest-ever Social Chess Day tournament, a 24-hour online blitz event open to players worldwide on July 20-21, 2025.
- Participants joined the tournament at any time and competed for prizes, including passes to the World Chess Olympiad 2026, FIDE merchandise, chess books, online masterclasses, and simuls with Grandmasters (GM).
ii.The FIDE launched the “Year of Social Chess”, a global initiative aimed at leveraging chess as a powerful tool to foster inclusion, education, empowerment, and mental well-being across communities.
About Chess:
Chess is a strategic board game played between two players on a square board divided into 64 squares (8×8 grid).
- Each player starts with 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns.
Historical Background:
i.As per the UN, one theory suggests that an early form of chess, known as ‘Chaturanga,’ originated in Northern India during the Gupta Empire (around 319–543 BC, Before Christ) and later spread westward along the Silk Roads to regions like Russia.
ii.Around 600 CE (Common Era), Chaturanga was introduced in Sassanid Persia, where it evolved into ‘Shatranj.’
iii.The 13th-century Spanish manuscript ‘Libro de los Juegos’ (Book of Games), attributed to King Alfonso X, documents chess with rules and gameplay similar to Persian Shatranj.
World Chess Champions:
- Gukesh Dommaraju of India (GM), who won the World Chess Championship in December 2024 by defeating Ding Liren, became the youngest-ever undisputed champion.
- Ju Wenjun of China (GM), successfully defended the Women’s World Chess Championship in April 2025, securing her title for the fifth time since 2018.
Note: The Grandmaster (GM) title is the highest lifetime title awarded by FIDE to over-the-board chess players, followed by International Master (IM), FIDE Master (FM), and Candidate Master (CM), based on achieving specific performance norms and rating thresholds.
India to host FIDE Chess World Cup 2025:
i.India is set to host the prestigious FIDE Chess World Cup 2025, scheduled from October 30 to November 27, 2025.
ii.A total of 206 players will compete in the event, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament.
About International Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE)):
President – Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich (Russia)
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Established – 1924
Motto – ‘Gens una sumus’ (Latin – We are one Family)
