International Chess Day 2027 is on Tuesday

About International Chess Day

International Chess Day honors one of the world's oldest strategy games and the global community that plays it. The UN describes chess as cheap to take up and open to everyone, whatever their language, age, gender, physical ability or social status. It also links the game to education, gender equality and tolerance, and to its wider goals for sustainable development.

The date comes from the history of FIDE, the Fédération Internationale des Échecs, which was founded in Paris on July 20, 1924. On FIDE's initiative, chess players have marked July 20 as International Chess Day since 1966. On December 12, 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/74/22, which proclaimed July 20 as World Chess Day and recognized FIDE's role in international cooperation through chess. Both names refer to the same date.

Chess itself has a long history. The UN's background notes trace a likely ancestor, the game chaturanga, to northern India during the Gupta period, after which it passed to Sassanid Persia, where it was known as chatrang and later shatranj. From there it spread to the Arabian Peninsula and Byzantium and was popular in Europe by about the year 1000. On July 20, clubs, schools and players can celebrate that history with tournaments, simultaneous exhibitions and casual games.

Sources: United Nations: World Chess Day, UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/74/22: World Chess Day. How we check dates.

How to mark International Chess Day

• Play a game with a friend or family member, or teach someone the basic moves.
• Look for a chess club, library or park event near you that welcomes casual players.
• Solve a few chess puzzles each day this week to sharpen your tactics.
• Replay a famous historical game move by move and read the commentary.
• Set up a board in a shared space at work or school with an open invitation to play.

International Chess Day dates