Celebrate International Chess Day!
Did you know there's a day on the calendar dedicated to one of the oldest, smartest, and most quietly thrilling games in the world? That day is International Chess Day, and it’s celebrated every year on July 20th.
But it’s not just a birthday party for chess — it’s a global reminder that playing chess isn’t just about pawns and queens. It’s about connection, about community… and maybe even about peace.
You're here because you're curious. Maybe you're a player, maybe you're a parent, or you're simply wondering why this humble board game keeps showing up in parks, classrooms, and now your newsfeed every July.
Whatever brought you here, let's explore what makes International Chess Day worth celebrating — and maybe, just maybe, worth participating in yourself.
So… why July 20th?
Well, that’s actually a great question. You see, the answer goes back exactly 100 years — to Paris, France, in 1924.
That’s when the International Chess Federation — better known as FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) — was founded. As you probably already know, if chess had a central nervous system, FIDE would be it. From organizing world championships to setting the official rules, FIDE's the reason we all agree that a knight moves in an L and not a loop-the-loop.
Pretty soon in 1966, UNESCO said, “Hey, why don’t we officially celebrate this?” And so International Chess Day was born.
Fast-forward to 2019, and the United Nations General Assembly made it official worldwide. Yes — the same organization that tackles global health and peace treaties also stepped in to say, “Let’s celebrate chess.”
Chess promotes international understanding, dialogue, and — in their words — a culture of peace.
Let’s be honest — that’s a lot of pressure for 32 little pieces.
Celebrate International Chess Day… but How?
If you're picturing serious-faced grandmasters in tuxedos, you’re missing the fun.
Chess Day is celebrated everywhere, in over 190 countries, actually. And you don’t need to be a titled player to join in.
You could teach someone to play, like FIDE encouraged during the 2020 pandemic. You could stream a game, join an online arena on Chess.com or Lichess, or play a quiet game with your grandma. (Which, let’s be real, she’ll probably win.)
Some of the best celebrations come from the most unexpected places. So, for example, in 2024, over 7 million games were played globally in just one day — yes, you read that right — as part of a Guinness World Record attempt.
Could you be one of the seven million next year? That’s entirely up to you.
What’s The Point of This Day?
This isn’t just about lining up pawns and hoping you remembered how en passant works.
It’s about what chess teaches — and what it doesn’t care about. Chess doesn’t care if you're rich or poor, male or female, young or old, famous or unknown. That’s the spirit behind FIDE’s motto, “Gens Una Sumus” — “We are one family.”
It’s not just a slogan but the whole point of the day.
When you sit across the board, you meet as equals. That’s exactly the spirit that UNESCO and the United Nations wanted to promote when they backed this day.
Chess sharpens problem solving skills while also boosting focus, teaching patience, and building resilience. It encourages sportsmanship and strategic thinking. And it’s being used in classrooms, prisons, retirement homes, refugee camps, and even hospitals.
In some countries, like Armenia, it’s part of the school curriculum. And no surprise — Armenia led the charge at the UN to get this day recognized.
So yes — International Chess Day is fun. But it’s also education, peace building, and inclusion — all rolled into one little checkered board.
Chess Goes Digital — and Wild
You don’t need a dusty board or a Sunday club anymore. If you’ve got a phone, you’ve got access to a world of chess.
Platforms like Chess.com and Lichess host 24-hour online tournaments each July 20. These aren’t just casual events — they’re massive. Thousands of players. Clock-ticking madness. Puzzles. Blitz. Bullet. Rapid.
There are also live streams, Q&A sessions with grandmasters, and open-entry simul games where a single pro plays 30 opponents at once.
In 2024, FIDE went all out:
- A 100-year Jubilee Book.
- A Torch Relay that started in Delhi and ended in Budapest.
- Outdoor festivals in Paris and Mexico.
- And yes — that Guinness World Record for 7 million games played in 24 hours.
Even virtual reality and augmented reality events made an appearance, showing how modern and adaptable chess can be. So if you’re the kind of person who wants to “just watch,” there’s plenty to see — from digital puzzles to cosplay human chess games.
Famous Faces, Big Names
So, I’m sure by now you’re probably wondering just who’s participating in all this?
Well, some of the biggest names in chess — and beyond.
- Magnus Carlsen has joined online blitzes to mark the day.
- Viswanathan Anand, Hou Yifan, and Vladimir Kramnik appeared at the UN’s 2020 chess summit.
- Judit Polgár uses her platform to run instructional events for kids.
From world champions to world leaders, the message is clear: chess is for everyone.
Even the UN Secretary-General has praised it, calling chess a “universal game for building bridges.” When was the last time a board game got that kind of love?
International Chess Day 2024: The Centennial That Broke the Internet
This past year was historic.
In 2024, FIDE pulled out all the stops. The celebration started with a global torch relay that began in India — a nod to chess’s ancient roots — and made its way across continents before arriving in Hungary during the Chess Olympiad.
Along the way, there were puzzle blitzes, teaching marathons, and hybrid events that blurred the line between online and over-the-board play. The real showstopper, though, was the 24-hour global tournament marathon.
It didn’t matter where you lived or what time zone you were in — somewhere in the world, someone was playing. Over seven million games logged in a single day. Yes, really. Seven million.
The moment didn’t just belong to the chess world. It spilled into the mainstream. News outlets picked up the story, timelines flooded with snapshots of games and greetings, and hashtags like #WorldChessDay, #FIDE100, and #GensUnaSumus started trending.
If you were online that day, it was nearly impossible to miss the buzz.
Chess has never felt more alive.
Looking Ahead: What About 2025?
So what now?
Well, International Chess Day 2025 lands on a Sunday — prime time for full-day chess festivals, street matches, library events, and online blitzes.
No one’s leaked the theme yet (FIDE usually announces that closer to July), but based on what we’ve seen, you can expect:
- More outreach to underrepresented communities
- More emphasis on chess in education
- More women-focused events and tournaments
- And maybe even another digital-first experiment (VR chess? Human vs AI? Anything’s possible.)
You don’t need to wait for someone to invite you. Why don’t you start a game at work… or teach your cousin how to checkmate? You can maybe even host a backyard chess tournament with nothing but sidewalk chalk and bottle caps? Maybe that’s too out there, but hey, that’s the spirit!
That’s how you celebrate International Chess Day.
This Day Belongs to You
You don’t need a title… you don’t need a club… maybe you don’t even need a board!
You just need a willingness to sit down, focus, and make your next move.
International Chess Day isn’t reserved for professionals or purists — it’s open to anyone who wants to think a little deeper, connect a little better, or just play.
So what will you do this July 20?
Will you play a game? Teach a kid? Solve a puzzle? Watch a stream? Tweet a memory?
Whatever it is — if it involves a board, a few pieces, and your full attention — then congratulations! You’re celebrating International Chess Day exactly the way it was meant to be.