FIDE Announces Winners of EDU Classroom Contest 2026
Winners of the FIDE EDU Classroom Contest 2026 Announced: How Chess Is Becoming Part of Modern Education
Chess is increasingly winning not only at tournaments
For a long time, chess was associated primarily with competitions, ratings, and the fight for titles.
But today the game is moving more and more actively into a completely different sphere — education.
That is why the FIDE EDU Classroom Contest 2026 turned out to be much more important than it may seem at first glance.
This is no longer just a creative initiative.
It is a reflection of how world chess is gradually becoming part of the modern school environment.
Chapter 1. What Is the FIDE EDU Classroom Contest?
The contest was created as part of FIDE’s educational direction.
The main goal is to show
how chess can be used in the classroom:
- to develop thinking
- to improve concentration
- for teamwork
- for children’s intellectual interaction
Participants presented:
- school projects
- educational methods
- creative formats for learning through chess
And that is exactly what made the contest especially large-scale and dynamic.
Chapter 2. Why School Chess Is Becoming a Global Trend
In recent years, many countries have begun to look at chess differently.
Not only as a sport.
But also as an educational tool.
Chess helps children:
- analyze
- concentrate
- make decisions
- learn responsibility
And all of this happens in a playful format.
That is why chess-based educational programs are becoming increasingly popular.
Chapter 3. The Contest Showed How Differently Chess Can Be Taught
One of the most interesting aspects of the contest was the variety of approaches.
Some schools focused on:
- interactive lessons
- team assignments
- game-based formats
Others focused on:
- strategic thinking
- discipline
- long-term skill development
And this is especially important.
Because modern chess in education is no longer “dry theory.”
It is becoming part of a lively learning process.
Chapter 4. The New Generation of Children Perceives Chess Differently
Modern schoolchildren are growing up in a digital environment.
This changes everything:
- the speed of information perception
- the learning format
- methods of interaction
And chess is gradually adapting to this new reality.
Today, children want:
- more interactivity
- practice
- fast game-based formats
And educational projects are beginning to take this into account.
Chapter 5. Online Platforms Are Becoming Part of School Learning
Modern educational chess is increasingly moving beyond the traditional classroom.
Checkmat as an Addition to School Lessons
Many schools and teachers use online platforms for:
- training games
- homework assignments
- game tournaments
- mistake analysis
On Checkmat, especially useful features include:
- playing with friends
- fast games
- private rooms
- convenient practice after lessons
This helps children maintain interest in the game even outside school.
Chapter 6. Why Such Contests Matter for the Future of Chess
Elite tournaments create stars.
But school programs create the future of mass chess.
Such projects:
- expand the audience
- form a new chess culture
- make chess more accessible
That is why the educational direction is becoming one of FIDE’s main priorities.
Chapter 7. Chess Is Becoming Part of Modern Intellectual Culture
In the past, intellectual sport was seen as something narrow and elitist.
Today, the situation is changing.
Chess is increasingly becoming:
- part of the school environment
- an element of digital learning
- a way to develop soft skills
And the FIDE EDU Classroom Contest 2026 showed this especially clearly.
The Moment When It Becomes Clear: Chess Has Already Changed Education
The main result of the contest is not only the winners.
It is the scale of interest itself.
It shows:
chess is no longer perceived exclusively as a game for professionals.
It is becoming a full-fledged educational tool for a new generation.
Education and Chess Continue to Move Closer Together
After the contest ends, what will remain are:
- winners
- the best projects
- new ideas
But most importantly, a direction of development will remain.
World chess is moving more and more actively into schools.
And this process is already difficult to stop.
The Future of Chess Begins Not Only at Tournaments, but Also in Classrooms
The FIDE EDU Classroom Contest 2026 showed
that the modern development of chess is connected not only with the elite and world championships.
It is connected with children, schools, and education.
Because it is there that a new generation of players,
spectators, and people for whom chess becomes part of thinking is being formed today.