The European stage of the 2026 FIDE–ISCF World Schools Team Championship has concluded in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia.According to FIDE, Gymnasium No. 50 of Minsk took gold, Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 won silver, and the Andria Razmadze Physics and Mathematics School from Kutaisi, Georgia, claimed bronze.
The tournament was the last of four continental stages, with the top qualifying teams set to meet in the Grand Final in December.
The International School Chess Federation (ISCF) was founded at the initiative of Kazakhstani entrepreneur and Freedom Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: FRHC) founder Timur Turlov. On September 26, 2026, he was elected President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), receiving 110 out of 191 votes in the second round. He now plans to build on his experience promoting youth chess in Kazakhstan while bringing his expertise in digital services to FIDE.
European Stage Sets the Stage for December Final
Held from September 29 to October 2, theEuropean tournament brought together 27 school teams from 25 countries. The teams competed over eight rounds using the Swiss system, with four starting players and one reserve per team.
According to FIDE, Gymnasium No. 50 took an early lead with two 4-0 victories and remained undefeated. With standout performances from Damir Bulgak and Katrina Yakovleva, the Minsk team secured first place after defeating Israel’s Green Village School in the final round.
Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 finished second, winning seven of its eight matches and losing only to the champions. The Kutaisi team claimed bronze after defeating Yerevan School No. 77. Individual honors went to Damir Bulgak, who won gold on board one, and Latvia’s Daniel Beniosev, who took gold on board two.
The European event followed earlier continental tournaments in Kazakhstan, South Africa, and Costa Rica. The four champions were:
• Europe: Gymnasium No. 50, Minsk, Belarus.
• Asia: Wisdom School, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• Africa: Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School, Uganda.
• Americas: Saco Oliveros de Lince, Peru.
Related: Timur Turlov Presents His Plan For FIDE At First Presidential Debate
From Kazakhstan to International School Chess
Timur Turlov’s work to bring school chess to the international stage began in Kazakhstan.
After becoming President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation in January 2023, Turlov worked to give young players more opportunities to learn and compete, while also supporting coach training and chess education.
In September 2024, he helped establish the International School Chess Federation with FIDE’s support. The organization aims to bring chess to more children by connecting schools, national federations, and tournament organizers. Its affiliation with FIDE was subsequently supported at the 2024 FIDE General Assembly.
One of its main projects is the World Schools Team Championship. The 2025 event near Washington, D.C. brought together more than 50 school teams from around the world. According to Turlov’s election materials, it attracted 55 teams from 47 countries, with 263 participants. In 2026, the championship expanded to four continental stages and a world final, allowing more schools to take part.
Chess education is also growing in Kazakhstan. In his July 2026 report, Turlov said the Chess in Education program had reached more than 1,500 schools and 60,000 students. He also reported that the country hosts around 300–400 chess tournaments each month and has allocated approximately 371 million tenge (about $820,000) to support young talent in 2026.
Kazakhstan is also training chess teachers and establishing KazChessLab research and educational centers. Turlov hopes to use this experience to make school chess a long-term priority for FIDE.
Chess in the Freedom SuperApp
Technology is another important part of Turlov’s approach. In Kazakhstan, he says chess has already been integrated into the Freedom SuperApp, which brings together banking, investment, insurance, and other services.
Freedom Holding has also acquired ChessBase, a developer of professional chess software and databases. According to an April 17, 2026, FIDE announcement, the group plans to invest approximately €5 million in the project, using artificial intelligence to improve ChessBase products and integrating them into its digital ecosystem. Turlov has already announced that ChessBase will be integrated into the Freedom SuperApp and made available to all customers across the platform.
FIDE’s Digital Transformation: Building a Unified Platform
Digital transformation is one of four priorities in Turlov’s presidential program, alongside chess education, financial sustainability, and institutional development.
A central proposal is to create a unified digital platform that would help national federations manage players, organize tournaments, and provide online services. The program also calls for better anti-cheating measures, educational tools, support for smaller federations, and greater transparency.
“I will work to ensure that we digitalize all national federations, provide them with a platform, give them the ability to organize online tournaments, and monetize the results of this digital growth and development,” Turlov stated.
For smaller federations, such a platform could make it easier to organize competitions without investing in expensive IT systems. However, the project would also need to address data protection, independent sports governance, and cooperation with existing online chess platforms.
What Comes Next for Global Chess
The European championship in Armenia marked the end of the continental stages, bringing school teams from four continents one step closer to December’s Grand Final.
It also reflects Turlov’s wider plans for FIDE, combining chess education and international tournaments with private investment and digital technology.
The next challenge is to bring these ideas to national federations worldwide. If successful, a unified digital platform could help FIDE expand its role in online chess while giving schools, coaches, and players more ways to learn, train, and compete.
