Cape Town to Host Historic World School Team Chess Championship in 2026: A Milestone for Africa!
Cape Town Set to Make Chess History in 2026
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — From July 6 to 11, 2026, Cape Town will proudly host the African continental stage of the World School Team Chess Championship (WSTC), marking a historic first for the continent. This prestigious event will be the inaugural chess competition of such international caliber held in Africa, drawing national school teams from across the continent.
The WSTC is part of a new cycle initiated by FIDE and the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) under the banner of “Chess in Education Year.” Teams from dozens of African nations will converge in Cape Town, with the top performers earning a coveted spot in the Grand Final scheduled for December 2026.
Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “We are delighted to announce the launch of two new continental school championships in Africa and the Americas. These regions are emerging as key hubs for chess development with tremendous potential.”
The WSTC 2026 cycle kicked off in April 2026 in Kazakhstan, where the Asian stage in Almaty saw 114 school-aged players (ages 8–14) from 19 countries compete. The Wisdom School team from Tashkent took home the top prize, followed by Russia’s Kurchatov School and India’s Velammal MHS.
Following the Cape Town event, the continental qualifiers will continue with the Americas stage in San José, Costa Rica, from August 11 to 16, before moving on to Europe.
Timur Turlov, Founder and Majority Shareholder of Freedom Holding Corp., which is the tournament’s General Partner, emphasized the importance of chess as an educational tool. “Chess is more than a sport; it is an educational tool,” he said. “We actively promote integrating chess into school curricula to enhance logical thinking, concentration, and teamwork skills.”
Freedom Holding Corp. has committed over $15 million annually to chess development, contributing to the recognition of chess as a core sport in Kazakhstan. The company recently acquired ChessBase, the leading provider of chess software, further solidifying its commitment to the chess community.
Rainer Woisin, Managing Director of ChessBase, welcomed the acquisition, stating, “This is great news for the chess world. Having an investor who genuinely loves chess is perhaps the best outcome imaginable.”
As Cape Town prepares to welcome young chess enthusiasts from across Africa, the excitement is palpable. The event promises to inspire a new generation of players and elevate the profile of chess on the continent.
With the stage set for an unforgettable tournament, all eyes will be on Cape Town in July 2026 as it takes its place in chess history.