International School Chess Federation

26/08/2026

The journey continues - and the next move takes us to Armenia🇦🇲

25/08/2026

The Memorandum of Understanding with Nicaragua has been officially signed online.

Following the Smart Moves Americas, the agreement was signed by Timur Turlov, President of the International School Chess Federation, together with representatives of the Instituto Nicaragüense de Deportes and the Comisión Nicaragüense de Ajedrez.

Nicaragua is already showing strong progress: 2,503 chess clubs, 41,688 students reached and teachers trained nationwide.

This memorandum gives that work an official framework and opens the next stage for expanding chess as an educational tool across the country 🇳🇮♟️

24/08/2026

At Smart Moves Americas, ISCF formalized partnerships with governments across the region through official memorandums.

🇨🇷COSTA RICA

Signed by Donald Rojas Fernández (ICODER National Director), Timur Turlov (ISCF President), and José Antonio Carrillo Pujol (FIDE Americas President). Marlon Andrés Navarro Álvarez (Vice Minister of National Planning) served as Honorary Witness.

Official partnership between national institutions and the international chess community.

🇸🇻EL SALVADOR

Dalila Beatriz Beltrán de Menjívar (National Director of School Coexistence, MINEDUCYT) positioned chess as a tool for respect, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution. A different approach. A broader purpose.

🏫BEACONS OF CHESS (REGIONAL)

Signed by Timur Turlov (ISCF President) and José Antonio Carrillo Pujol (FIDE Americas President).

A shared certification program for schools that implement chess in education. Joint framework for coordination, information exchange, teacher development, and best practice sharing across participating countries.

This is how initiatives become systems.

23/08/2026

Merch logistics.
Venue negotiations.
Backup plans for backup plans.
The team that said yes to every problem and fixed it by morning.

This is how we built WSTC 2026🧵

23/08/2026

22/08/2026

Share your opinion on “Why chess is good for kids?” 🤗⬇️

21/08/2026

Three schools that embedded chess into their educational systems.

«Chess in Education» School Awards recognize institutions leading this work. 🏆

GSD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
La Guácima, Alajuela

Chess integrated into their leadership development strategy. International curriculum, institutional commitment.

ESCUELA LEPANTO
Peninsular Regional Education Directorate

Regional access. Not elite. Not exclusive. Chess in education for all students.

ESCUELA LAS LAGUNAS
Pérez Zeledón

Community-centered implementation. Chess as part of broader educational mission.

Luis Eduardo Quiros Rojas (Costa Rican Chess Federation President) and Timur Turlov (ISCF President) presented the awards at Smart Moves Americas. ♟

These schools demonstrate what systemic integration looks like.

21/08/2026

Three panels. Three angles on how governments and schools build chess programs.

At Smart Moves Americas in Costa Rica, we explored what it takes to move from vision to action.

PANEL 1: FROM VISION TO NATIONAL ACTION 🎯

Ministers, ambassadors, and federation leaders gathered to answer one question: how do you turn a commitment into a real national program?

Timur Turlov (ISCF President), José Antonio Carrillo Pujol (FIDE Americas President), and representatives from Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica discussed the coordination needed between ministries, education authorities, and international organizations.

Key takeaway: systemic change requires institutional alignment.

PANEL 2: PLAYING THE LONG GAME ♟

How do you sustain a chess in education program beyond one administration?

Robert McLellan, Andrea Harris-Marshall, Milagros Ibañez, and Dilda Nauryzbayeva (ISCF Educational Projects Director) shared insights on long-term structures, partnerships, and the institutional commitment required.

It’s not about one-off initiatives. It’s about architecture.

PANEL 3: ONE BOARD. MILLIONS OF CLASSROOMS 🌍

Expanding access to quality chess education while maintaining standards—that was the focus.

Natalia Lobo, Marta Amigo Vilalta, and Ceballos Rodriguez shared practical approaches from programs in Catalonia, Argentina, and beyond.

Three challenges. Three working answers.

21/08/2026

TOURNAMENT STARTER PACK ♟️

Team uniform, smart brain, brave heart and that special chess energy😎