On the morning of June 20, 2024, Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School (Shandong Province, China) hosted a series of events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the FIDE, including the “Campus Chess Tournament Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the FIDE and the First Campus Chess Tournament of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School.” The event was part of the 2024 “July 20 World Chess Day Chess Culture Festival.”
Attendees of the opening ceremony included Bian Chuanshun, Principal of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School; Zhang Huaifa, Head of the Mass Sports Department of Liaocheng Education and Sports Bureau; Li Huaying, Vice Principal of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School; Qiu Fengchun, Vice Principal of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School; Li Aiying, Principal of Songgui Road Campus of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School; Wang Jie, Secretary General of Liaocheng Chess Association; and more than 1,000 students from the first and second grades of the school.
On behalf of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School, Vice Principal Li Huaying extended a warm welcome to all the leaders and guests and sincerely congratulated all the participants. Principal Li stressed that Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School has always adhered to the educational philosophy of “focusing on the development of teachers and students, laying the foundation for national rejuvenation,” and pursues high-quality, distinctive, and modern education.
The school aims to cultivate innovative talents with a Chinese spirit and a global perspective, which is in line with the school motto, “Aspiration, Knowledge, Perseverance.” In the field of chess, a sport that emphasizes both wisdom and strategy, the school has raised Jiang Tianyu, the 2023 U15 World School Summer Games chess champion.
Vice Principal Li also stated that on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the FIDE, the Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School had been selected as the representative for school chess activities in Liaocheng, which shows trust in us and tremendous encouragement for our future work. By hosting this campus tournament, we aim to promote the game of chess and enhance students’ logical thinking, competitive skills, and spirited sportsmanship.
Student representative Jiang Tianyu, the 2023 U15 World School Summer Games chess champion, also delivered an inspiring speech, encouraging her peers to pursue their dreams.
Representing the Liaocheng Education and Sports Bureau, section chief Zhang Huaifa congratulated the opening of the campus tournament. Zhang pointed out that we are honoured to celebrate the 100th anniversary of FIDE’s founding in 2024. The Federation has designated Liaocheng’s “July 20 World Chess Day Chess Culture Festival” as one of the global celebration venues. Today’s campus tournament is not only an important part of the culture festival and the centennial celebration of the World Chess Federation but also a crucial window and excellent opportunity to showcase the educational achievements of Liaocheng, especially in chess education, to the world. Zhang expressed special gratitude to FIDE and the Chinese Chess Association for their recognition and support of their work, congratulating Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School again.
Bian Chuanshun, principal of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School, announced the opening of the “Campus Chess Tournament Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the FIDE and the First Campus Chess Tournament of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School.” Together with section chief Zhang Huaifa, Principal Bian made the first move to inaugurate the competition, officially commencing the celebration. Principal Bian, Director Zhang, and other leaders and guests watched the matches and activities that followed.
In addition to the Campus Chess Tournament for first and second-grade students, the school held a “One vs. 100 Simultaneous Chess to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the FIDE.” During this event, Jiang Tianyu, the 2023 U15 World School Summer Games chess champion, played simultaneously against 100 students from the school’s middle school chess club.
The school also hosted a photo exhibition titled “100 Years of Major Events of the World Chess Federation.” This exhibition used pictures to showcase significant events since the Federation’s founding in 1924, helping students learn about the Federation’s century-long development and its advocacy for a culture of peace and inclusivity.
In addition to the three major events mentioned above, the school also organized various activities under the theme “Celebrating the Centennial of the World Chess Federation: Chess in My Heart.” Students waved colorful flags and ran freely around the campus, expressing their love for chess in various ways. They shared the joy, growth, and achievements brought by chess.
We are family！
The series of events, including the “Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of FIDE: Campus Chess Tournament and the First Campus Chess Tournament of Liaocheng No. 1 Experimental School” are part of the 2024 “July 20 World Chess Day Chess Culture Festival.” This festival is a microcosm of the ways chess enthusiasts in China and Liaocheng celebrate the centennial of the World Chess Federation. This year’s cultural festival serves as a sub-venue for the centennial celebrations of FIDE. The organizing committee has planned multiple high-level competitions at international, national, and provincial levels, engaging chess enthusiasts broadly. Additionally, various artistic performances rich in cultural significance and widely appealing to the public are scheduled. Several of these competitions have applied for Guinness World Records. Let’s look forward to the “July 20 World Chess Day Chess Culture Festival” cultural feast!