Best Ways to Celebrate International Chess Day
International Chess Day will take place on July 20, which is the anniversary of the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris in 1924. The game of chess has been played for centuries and takes intellectual prowess to play it.
The theme for this year is “Every Move Counts.” This is a reminder that every decision, whether it’s on a chessboard or in life, shapes your journey. International Chess Day highlights the power of chess to bring people from all over the globe together. Over 600 million people play chess.
Play chess online
One of the largest-ever online chess tournaments will take place on July 20. It’s a 24-hour blitz tournament in which players of all strengths and ages can participate. It is co-hosted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Lichess.org. FIDE organizes many international chess tournaments, and Lichess.org is a free, open-source chess server. All participants go into random prize draws.
Five winners will receive a voucher to attend the Opening Ceremony and the first round of the World Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Online chess platforms have made it more accessible, and people play millions of online chess games every day.
Online betting has become very popular in the U.S. in states where it is legal. These online casinos, where you play for real money, focus mainly on games like slots and table games like blackjack and roulette. There are some online sports betting sites that offer markets for chess games and tournaments.
Learn more about chess culture
Chess is more than just a game, and International Chess Day is the perfect occasion to learn more about books, movies, and events in the world of chess. A hit TV series that’s fascinating to watch is “The Queen’s Gambit.”
Books you may enjoy reading are “Chess Queens” by Jennifer Shahade or “My 60 Memorable Games” by Bobby Fischer. Fischer was one of the greatest chess players ever, who has inspired generations of chess players in the U.S. and all over the world. Then there are podcasts you can listen to, like “Chess Experience” and “Perpetual Chess.”
Chess terms are frequently used to describe situations in daily life. It transcends cultural barriers and has become like a universal language. The game has even played a role in the development of artificial intelligence, with Gary Kasparov playing IBM’s Deep Blue in 1997.
Teach someone to play chess
A simple but inspirational way to spend International Chess Day is to teach someone else how to play chess. This could spark a lifetime interest in chess in a family member or friend. The game can improve cognitive skills like problem-solving and concentration. It requires patience, logic, and strategy. Teaching someone else to play the game can be very rewarding and can even help you improve your own game.
Watch top players live streaming chess games
Hikaru Nakamura is interesting to watch. He often streams chess games and gives commentary. Another streamer is Levy Rozman (GothamChess). Chess.com is a good resource for finding live chess streams. It’s a little different to watch than streamers using game hacks when playing video games, although chess streamers also use YouTube and Twitch for streaming.
Celebrate by watching top chess games
You can also celebrate by watching some top chess tournaments. Many tournaments take place at this time of the year. You can watch Chess960 in Las Vegas, which takes place from July 16 to 20, or the Women’s World Cup, which takes place from July 5 to 29.
Chess960 is a variant of chess that Bobby Fischer came up with. It follows all standard chess rules except that the starting position of pieces on the back rank is randomized.
The Grand Chess Tour and Freestyle Chess Grand Slam also run mid-July and offer some fascinating viewing. Watching top champions can help you improve your own game.
