A regional stage of the 2026 FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship in Cape Town has evolved into a planning drive to expand chess education across Africa. What started as a school team event turned into a working forum for sports federations, education officials, and chess leaders from around the continent.
Expanding Chess Education in Africa
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and ISCF President Timur Turlov attended discussions focused on teacher training, school leagues, national coordination, and how chess can widen access to structured learning. Delegations from South Africa, Eswatini, and Namibia met organizers to explore ways to give chess a larger role in their societies.
South African chess officials, representatives of the national Olympic movement, and government sports authorities underlined the country’s growing focus on the game. They noted Cape Town’s place in chess history as the site of Africa’s first recorded chess club in 1885 and framed chess as a tool to reduce social and educational gaps. Western Cape sport and recreation chief director Dr. Lyndon Bouah cited official figures showing more schools are offering chess, prompting increased public funding and plans for a schools league. FIDE and South African counterparts agreed to deepen cooperation, including support for additional international events, and South Africa is being considered as a regional hub for chess education and training.
With Eswatini, FIDE and ISCF discussed creating an international framework to help African countries build connected national chess systems. FIDE stressed the need for stronger organization within national federations and closer coordination between them, shifting from one-off activities to ongoing, structured projects.
Namibian representatives showed interest in programs to train primary school teachers to deliver chess in classrooms and in embedding chess across the national curriculum, potentially leveraging the country’s experience in e-education. FIDE indicated it can support these efforts. Namibia also signaled readiness to host an international chess event in Africa, citing available resources and infrastructure.
Organizers said the Cape Town talks have set clearer steps for turning scattered local initiatives into a coordinated, continent-wide program to integrate chess into education, with the aim of expanding participation and opportunities for young people. The potential for chess to serve as an educational tool is significant, making this initiative a vital step towards enhancing learning experiences for students across Africa.