A major gathering of school chess in Asia concluded in Almaty
The Asian Continental Stage of the World Schools Team Championship 2026 came to an end in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with Wisdom School of Tashkent, Uzbekistan crowned champion. With this result, Wisdom School also secured qualification for the Grand Final scheduled for December 2026. The host nation’s top-performing representative, SEED Uniker School from Astana, finished fourth against strong opposition and delivered a notable performance.
Organised jointly by FIDE, the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Akimat of Almaty, with Freedom Holding Corp as General Partner, the event was held from April 7 to 10, 2026 at the Kazakhstan Hotel. The tournament brought together 114 young players aged 8 to 14 from 19 countries. The competition was played over an 8-round Swiss system, with a time control of 45 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move. This format offered a balanced test of the young players’ opening preparation, middlegame planning, and ability to maintain quality under time pressure.
One of the event’s most memorable features was its space theme. Designed in tribute to Cosmonautics Day on April 12, the concept reinforced the symbolic connection between chess and the ideas of strategy, exploration, and reaching for new horizons. On the final day, the ceremonial first move was made by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and Kazakh cosmonaut and National Hero of Kazakhstan Aydyn Aimbetov, highlighting the shared values of chess and space exploration: strategic thinking, teamwork, and the courage to venture into the unknown. Symbolic touches like this underlined that school chess is not only a competitive arena, but also an educational and cultural platform.
From FIDE’s perspective, the tournament forms part of a broader educational vision. The federation’s decision to declare 2026 the “Year of Chess in Education” has given special significance to school team championships. The view that chess helps children develop concentration, problem-solving, patience, and decision-making skills is now being closely followed not only by federations but also by educational circles. In this sense, the tournament in Almaty was an important indicator of the level school chess has reached across Asia. Wisdom School’s title demonstrated the strength of one of the region’s rising school chess programs, while the competitive showing of the Kazakh teams suggested that the host country’s investment in youth development is producing tangible results.