Saturday 20 July 2024

World Chess Day 2024


Today is World Chess Day. Why so? Because 100 years ago on 20 July 1924, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) was founded in Paris, France. Hence, FIDE is also known as the Fédération Internationale des Échecs. Today is thus very special indeed for the worldwide chess community, and FIDE calls it reaching a monumental milestone: One Hundred Years of promoting and governing the game of chess.

World Chess Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 12 December 2019 to mark the date of FIDE's establishment in 1924. However, under FIDE's own initiative, this date—the 20th of July—has been observed as World Chess Day by chess players around the world since 1966.

The designation of World Chess Day not only recognises the role of FIDE in supporting international cooperation for chess activity and aiming to improve friendly harmony among all peoples of the world, but also provides an important platform to foster dialogue, solidarity and a culture of peace.

To celebrate the occasion and FIDE's Centenary, the Malaysian Chess Federation with assistance from the Penang Chess Association will officially join other national chess federations in an ambitious attempt to set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for the most chess games played in 24 hours. From novices to grandmasters, in classrooms and on streets, online and over-the-board, chess enthusiasts from every corner of the globe will participate in this historic event.

Today's final round of the main Standard Chess competition in the eighth Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship in Penang, along with the subsequent Blitz tournament, has been registered as part of this world record attempt. We aim to contribute at least 180 Standard and 1,600 Blitz games to the global numbers.

#FIDE100 #FIDEChess #AsianChess #MalaysiaChess #PenangChess

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