ECU Chess in Education Ambassador – Germany

The European Chess Union has launched the ECU Chess in Education Partnership with National Chess Federations to help promote chess as an educational tool in schools and institutions across Europe and beyond, strengthening the connection amongst National Federations and the broader educational community.

ECU EDU’s goal is to increase the visibility of the National Chess in Education initiatives through our dedicated online platforms to create opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking and collaboration to inspire each other.

As part of this initiative, the ECU Chess in Education Ambassadors will play a key role in supporting the ECU Education Commission’s mission to promote Chess in Education (CiE), empowering chess educators and supporting CiE initiatives.

The ECU Chess in Education Partnership Agreement was signed with the German Chess Federation

What inspired your involvement in Chess in Education? 

Chess makes children happy and smarter! They want to play, and I support them in making that happen. Some people say that my school children play a lot of chess (and the flute), but everyone knows they are outstanding children!

Chess in Education in Your Country

1. Does your National Chess Federation have an active Education Commission?	Yes, they have a school chess commission, led by Helge Frowein. The German School Chess Commission rewards German schools with gold, silver and bronze medals for teaching chess and organises the German School Chess Championships.
2. How is chess currently integrated into your country’s education system?	Germany has many federal states, and education is managed at the state level, making it quite challenging due to the 17 different systems in place.
3. Is there government, institutional or National Chess Federation support for Chess in Education?	The German School Chess Foundation is unique. It supports Chess in Education by giving chess materials for new chess groups in schools. This project was very successful.
4. What age groups or school levels are most involved in chess activities in schools?	Primary school is very popular.
5. Are there particular regions, schools or cities with standout CiE initiatives?	There are many cities in Germany with big school chess tournaments. In Hamburg, almost 4,000 children are involved in school chess programs. This makes Hamburg one of the largest hubs for school-based chess activities in Germany. Magdeburg is a home to the “Magdeburger Schachzwerge” (Magdeburg Chess Dwarfs). This club is one of the largest and most active school chess organisations in Germany. Almost 1,000 schoolchildren are involved. In Munich, the Munich School Chess Foundation promotes chess in schools through structured programs and support.

Programs & Pedagogy

6. What are the key Chess in Education programs or projects currently running in your country?	Many programs are run through partnerships between schools and local chess clubs. Regional education authorities and foundations sometimes integrate chess into lessons as a tool for cognitive development, especially in primary schools. In Bremen, over 2,000 school kids learn chess with Fritz and Chesster, where ChessBase is very active.
7. What materials, tools or platforms are commonly used in these programs?	The Brackeler method (material1, material 2)and the Steps method are very popular.
8. Do schoolteachers and/or chess tutors follow any special curriculum for Chess in Education?	No, they do not. Teachers and chess tutors decide for themselves how and what they teach.
9. Are there any training or certification programs for schoolteachers and/or chess tutors related to CiE in your country?	The German School Chess Foundation eV, together with the German Chess Youth, has developed the School Chess Patent training course for chess instructors and run the annual German School Chess Congress.
10. Any of these programs and training organised or supported by the National Chess Federation?	The German School Chess Championship is organised by the German Chess Federation. The German School Chess Congress is organised by the German School Chess Foundation and the German Chess Youth, which is part of the German Chess Federation.
11. Are schoolteachers and/or chess tutors required to have specific qualifications, training, or certification—either by the education system or the National Chess Federation—to be eligible to teach chess in schools, whether as part of the curriculum or as an extracurricular activity?	No. To teach chess in schools in Germany, no special qualification is required. We do not have many teachers at the moment who teach chess in schools, but we have many chess tutors (chess players) who are not teachers. That is not good for Chess in Education, but a chance for chess.

Impact & Evaluation

12. How do you evaluate or measure the effectiveness of your CiE programs (if applicable)?	The Trierer study is old, but it was very important for us.
13. Are there any studies or evidence showing the impact of CiE in your country (if applicable)?	No.
14. Can you share a success story or example of impact from a student or school?	Do you know the story of Jarno Scheffler? He had an IQ of 59. He was classified as 100% severely disabled, but when he started playing chess at the age of eleven, his entire life changed. Today, he works as a gardener and has a rating of almost 2000. In 2019, he won the gold medal with the European team at the 1st Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Ankara. Chess can make wonders happen!

Vision & International Cooperation

15. What challenges do you face in expanding Chess in Education in your country, and what solutions are you exploring?	It was never easy to bring chess into school, but the real problem is finding suitable people to teach chess.
16. How do you see collaboration among CiE Ambassadors enhancing your national work?	Connecting schools is very, very important!
17. Are there any cultural or educational factors that shape how chess is taught in your country?	In Germany, chess in schools often reflects the country’s strong tradition of structured, club-based extracurriculars.