From July 6 to 11, Cape Town, South Africa, will host Africa’s qualifying stage of the FIDE/ISCF World School Team Chess Championship (WSTC), a prestigious global competition supported by FIDE, the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), and Kazakhstan-based Fin-Tech company Freedom, founded by Timur Turlov.
The winning African school team will earn the right to represent the continent at the World School Team Chess Championship Finals scheduled for December, where continental champions from around the globe will compete for the world title.
A Growing Global Competition
The World School Team Chess Championship is one of the newest international team events for young chess players. The inaugural edition was staged in Kazakhstan in 2023, and since 2024, the championship has been officially organized under the auspices of FIDE in partnership with the International School Chess Federation.
This year’s competition follows a continental qualification format, with each region producing a representative for the global finals. The Central Asian qualifier, held in Kazakhstan in April, was won by Uzbekistan’s Wisdom School, becoming the first team to secure its place in December’s championship.
Cape Town now takes center stage as Africa welcomes school teams from twenty (20) National Chess Federations including but not limited to Nigeria (Platform Schools), Namibia (Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool), Kenya (Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School), Lesotho (St. Stephen’s Diocesan High School), Eswatini (Hillside High School), South Africa (Wiehan Van der Merwe). The tournament features players between the ages of 8 and 14, highlighting some of Africa’s brightest young chess talents.
Beyond the competition, participants will benefit from an educational programme comprising masterclasses, workshops and interactive learning sessions designed to nurture the next generation of chess players.
Following the African qualifier, continental championships will also be staged across Europe, North America and South America before the world’s best school teams gather for the Grand Final in December.
Strengthening Chess Development Across Africa
The championship reflects FIDE’s growing commitment to expanding chess in developing regions.
According to FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Africa and the Americas are rapidly becoming important centres for chess development.
“In recent years, we have seen significant progress in chess infrastructure and school programmes, and these championships will further accelerate that growth,” he said.
The initiative is also strongly supported by Timur Turlov, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Holding Corp., who has played a leading role in promoting school chess internationally.
“I am very pleased to see the expansion of continental school championships into Africa and the Americas. These initiatives are a crucial step in enhancing youth engagement and building sustainable chess ecosystems in both regions,” Turlov said.
The Man Behind The Initiative
Timur Turlov has become one of the world’s foremost private supporters of chess. In September 2024, he was elected President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), a FIDE-affiliated organisation dedicated to promoting chess in schools.
His company, Freedom Holding Corp., operates in 22 countries and is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York. Through its flagship Freedom SuperApp, customers can access banking services, investments, travel bookings, shopping and a wide range of digital lifestyle services within a single platform.
Beyond business, Turlov invests more than US$15 million annually in the development of chess worldwide. Since becoming President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation in 2023, Kazakhstan has hosted several major international events, including the FIDE World Championship and numerous continental and global team competitions. During this period, Kazakh athletes have won 448 medals at official international chess events.
His contributions have earned him national recognition, including Kazakhstan’s prestigious Order of Parasat and the country’s Best Sports Patron award.
Earlier this year, Freedom further strengthened its commitment to the game by acquiring ChessBase, one of the world’s leading chess software, database and analytical platforms. The company has announced plans to invest €5 million into the platform while making its services available to Freedom’s more than 14 million clients.
As Africa’s finest young players prepare to compete in Cape Town, the championship represents far more than a battle for medals. It offers an opportunity for young talents to gain international exposure, strengthen educational values through chess, and inspire a new generation of players across the continent.
For one African school team, the journey to becoming world champions begins in Cape Town.
