FIDE SOC Panel Celebrates International Chess Day 2026: "Chess as Social Value"

The online panel brought together global experts to highlight the life-changing impact of chess in prisons, refugee camps, and communities worldwide.

On International Chess Day 2026, the FIDE Social Chess Commission (SOC) hosted a powerful online panel discussion titled "Chess as Social Value." The event brought together nine leading practitioners from around the world to share personal stories and demonstrate how chess is being used as a tool for rehabilitation, inclusion, and social development.

Opening the session, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich reaffirmed that social chess has become a core mission of FIDE. He emphasized that the work is now reaching kids with autism, refugees, prisoners, and the elderly across all continents, underscoring that volunteers, teachers, and instructors are the "highest value" in social chess.

The panel, moderated by André Vögtlin, Chair of the FIDE Social Chess Commission, featured a diverse group of experts:

• Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board

• Mikhail Korenman, Leader of the Chess for Freedom project

• Lāsma Kokorevica, Latvian prison administrator

• Anastasia Sorokina, Leader of the Chess for Protection projects

• Susan Namangale, Global Director of The Gift of Chess

• Antonio Porter, Director of Programs at Cook County Department of Corrections

• Prabitha Urwyler, Swiss Chess Federation board member

• Anastasiya Karlovich, Coach of the Girls Club in Kakuma refugee camp

Each panelist shared a personal "defining moment" that confirmed the profound impact of their work. Mikhail Korenman cited the story of an inmate named Hector whose life changed through chess, as well as meeting five women in Mongolia who were released from prison and had rebuilt their lives. Anastasia Sorokina described a non-verbal girl with autism who, after six months in the Infinite Chess program, began smiling and naming chess pieces—a transformation her parents could hardly believe.

Antonio Porter highlighted the "Checkmate for Kids" event, where incarcerated parents teach chess to their children, combining skill development with family reconnection. Anastasiya Karlovich shared that her defining moment comes every Saturday during Zoom lessons with girls in the Kakuma refugee camp—a project that has grown to four schools over four years.

Dana Reizniece framed social chess as "the most essential part of FIDE's mission," citing global statistics: 120 million forcibly displaced people, 250 million children out of school, and 700 million people in extreme poverty. She argued that international sports organizations have an obligation to contribute to global welfare. Dana also highlighted key programs including Chess for Freedom (active in 60+ countries), Chess for Protection (in partnership with UNHCR), Infinite Chess for children with autism (active in 28 countries), and the Girls Club in Kakuma refugee camp. She emphasized that social chess builds partnerships with governments and international organizations that elite chess alone cannot achieve, stating, "With elite sports, we can touch the brain. With social chess, we can reach the hearts and souls of people"

A recurring theme throughout the panel was the irreplaceable role of dedicated individuals. Lāsma Kokorevica described volunteer Sergei Sklimakos, who traveled by train to a Latvian prison every week—unpaid—because he believed the prisoners were worth his time. Through chess, he taught them to think before acting, control impulsive decisions, and learn from mistakes .

Antonio Porter noted that in a jail environment where idle time is a major challenge, chess participants develop a "yearning for more knowledge," often leading them to pursue education and other programming. He emphasized that chess uniquely combines cognitive development, emotional regulation, and human connection.

Looking to the future, panelists identified the need for greater collaboration, storytelling, and government engagement. Susan Namangale called for more partnership at higher levels, using the example of Malawi's national development plan and how chess can be positioned as a tool for mindset change .

Prabitha Urwyler called for moving from individual pilot projects to a global shared infrastructure, including facilitator training, ethical guidelines, safeguarding principles, and monitoring tools. She stressed that the framework must be "serious enough for funders, but simple enough for communities." She closed with a powerful reminder: "Every person deserves a safe space to think and to be empowered. And sometimes this space is just the 64 squares" .

The panel recording is now available on the FIDE Social Chess YouTube channel. For more information about FIDE's social chess initiatives, visit the FIDE Social Commission website.