The World Chess Federation FIDE promotes the day of its foundation 95 years ago, 20 July, as “International Chess Day”. In the Spanish and Portuguese speaking parts of the world, chess afficionados celebrate 19 November, the birthday of the third world champion José Raúl Capablanca. About 50 000 Danish pupils participate in chess activities on Skolernes Skakdag, Scholastic Chess Day, which Dansk Skoleskak, one of the leading chess in education providers, runs on a Friday every February, again on 7 February 2020. Judit Polgar has picked yet another date, the second Saturday every October, as Global Chess Day that just saw its fifth edition.
Hungary´s National Gallery hosted the Global Chess Festival main event. (Photo: Alina l´Ami)
Judit Polgar, founder and motor of the Global Chess Festival, interviewed during her event (photo: Alina l´Ami)
The Hungarian activist has encouraged organisers all over the globe to run chess events on this day under the motto and hashtag #ChessConnectsUs to create a Global Chess Festival in thirty countries. The biggest of these events took place in Budapest, where Judit Polgar and her team set up an impressive programme in the prestigeous National Gallery. Competition, which is dominating most chess events, was just one of many aspects along with learning, creativity, cooperation and inclusion. This video nicely captures the spirit and atmosphere.
Our conference team member Rita Atkins, who ran four mini workshops on chess and maths during the event, reports “there was a great buzz to the festival with a great crowd attending”. Among the visitors were chess dignitaries such as FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and London Chess Classic Director Malcolm Pein as well as international chess in education experts.
Chess and Maths workshops with Rita Atkins (photo: Alina l´Ami)