August 9, 2025

Get ready for a spectacular chess celebration straight from Washington, D.C.! The 2025 FIDE World Schools Team Championship witnessed a stunning performance by India’s Velammal MHS School. This powerhouse team won the gold medal with a jaw-dropping perfect score of 8 out of 8! Yes, they did not lose a single team match out of eight rounds. The competition was fierce, with 55 teams from 48 countries battling it out in a Swiss-style tournament at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Right behind them, Kazakhstan’s National School of Physics and Mathematics grabbed silver with a solid 6/8 points. The United States’ strong contender, The Harker School, just clinched the bronze with 5/8 points, edging out their fellow Kazakh rivals, Astana 2 RSPM. This Indian winning team was no ordinary bunch. With an all-titled roster including Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Keerti Shree Reddy, International Masters (IM) Aswath S and Ilamparthi A R, and FIDE Masters (FM) Daakshin Arun and Pranav K P, their skill was unbeatable. Across 36 games, they lost only two individual matches – a truly dominant showing! It’s no surprise that Velammal MHS School emerged victorious in these golden times for Indian chess. This school is also proud to be the alma mater of chess stars like Grandmasters Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Leon Mendonca. The event was held alongside the exciting Smart Moves Summit, a global conference that brought together more than 50 experts like scientists, teachers, and pro chess players. They discussed the magic of chess in education and ways to spread the game worldwide. Leading figures such as WGM Jennifer Shahade and representatives from Chess.com also took part. U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin, a noted chess fan, joined via video and celebrated the impact of the U.S. Chess Center, which has taught chess to over 40,000 students in his district. Speakers like FM Mike Klein shared clever ideas on growing chess classes sustainably, such as holding camps on teacher workdays. Timur Turlov, CEO of the event’s sponsor Freedom Holding, highlighted chess as a powerful tool to build concentration – a skill that’s priceless today. The summit also featured a major panel on "Strategic Leadership in Global Chess Education," bringing together officials and chess leaders to plan the future of the game in schools worldwide. Players even enjoyed visits to famous museums like the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum, mixing brainpower with fun tourism! At the closing ceremony, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said, “I want to start by congratulating the winners on their great result! Your success is well-deserved, and I hope you leave here with not only medals but also with experiences that will encourage you to achieve more in life.” The vibrant celebration of chess here proved one thing: chess is more than a game; it’s a global movement inspiring young minds everywhere to think sharp, dream big, and play smart. For full results and game reviews, chess fans can visit the dedicated events page and relive the excitement!

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Tags: Fide world schools team championship, Velammal mhs school, Chess education, Smart moves summit, Chess tournament 2025, Chess in schools,