ECU Chess in Education Ambassador – Austria

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 Austrian Chess Federation

What is your background in Chess and in Education?
I have been playing chess for over 50 years and working as a chess tutor for more than 23 years. I played actively during my eight years of service as a non-commissioned officer in the German Navy and later while studying in Germany, India and Austria. Professionally, I am a theologian, religious educator, and religious scientist with a strong interest in Asian religions. Today, I work as a high school teacher and adult educator, and train school chess teachers and tutors through the Austrian Chess Teacher and the ECU101-The SMART Method to Teach Chess training programs, as well as organise the annual school chess tournament for all schools in Vienna.

What inspired your involvement in Chess in Education?
I’ve always enjoyed working with children and students and I’ve seen how chess can make them genuinely happy. I started as a school chess tutor back in 2002, without any special experience at that time. To improve, I collected a lot of teaching materials and attended several training courses, and currently I lead the Commission for Amateur and School Chess of the Austrian Chess Federation.

Chess in Education in Your Country

1. Does your National Chess Federation have an active Education Commission?	Yes, we have an Amateur and School Chess Commission, which I lead. The emphasis is placed on the training of chess teachers and cooperation with schools and educational authorities to integrate chess into the education system.
2. How is chess currently integrated into your country’s education system?	In Austria, there are more than 200 schools that offer chess lessons through the “Chess Pedagogy in Schools” program. The association SPIDS (Schachpädagogik in der Schule) was founded in August 2014 and aims to expand chess in schools in Austria. Chess lessons held in schools are designed to help children develop important skills through learning the game. We focus on training as many chess teachers as possible for all types of schools. There is also an official 160-hour optional subject in the curriculum for high school students to learn about chess and how to teach it, which leads to the Austrian Chess Teacher qualification, but at present, only two schools offer it.
3. Is there government, institutional or National Chess Federation support for Chess in Education?	Yes. The Austrian Chess Federation and the Federal Ministry of Education are supporting Chess in Education on many different levels.
4. What age groups or school levels are most involved in chess activities in schools?	Mostly students aged 6 to 10.
5. Are there particular regions, schools or cities with standout CiE initiatives?	In Bad Ischl, Linz, and Vienna, high-school students have been able to choose chess as an optional subject in the curriculum and graduate as Austrian Chess Teacher.

Programs & Pedagogy

6. What are the key Chess in Education programs or projects currently running in your country?	There are several programs, which vary between federal states. Many involve partnerships between local chess clubs and school chess groups. Across Austria, these cooperations are quite common. For example, the chess club near my school often participates in our school’s open days, presenting mini-games and activities to students.
7. What materials, tools or platforms are commonly used in these programs?	It depends on the teacher. Many use the Steps method or create their own materials for primary school students. Online platforms such as Lichess are also widely used for teaching.
8. Do schoolteachers and/or chess tutors follow any special curriculum for Chess in Education?	No.
9. Are there any training or certification programs for schoolteachers and/or chess tutors related to CiE in your country?	Yes. The Austrian Chess Teacher training program is a course offered by the Austrian Chess Federation. We have trained several hundred new school chess teachers and newcomers to gain their first “Österreichischer Schachlehrer” (Austrian Chess Teacher) certificate. In collaboration with the European Chess Union we also offer the ECU101-The SMART Method to Teach Chess training course, leading to the ECU School Chess Teacher certificate.
10. Any of these programs and training organised or supported by the National Chess Federation?	Yes. The annual Austrian School and Recreational Chess Congress and the popular SPIDS Girls’ Chess Day in Vienna are particularly noteworthy.
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?	In primary schools, chess tutors generally have the basic Austrian Chess Teacher qualification. They don’t need to be school teachers to run chess lessons or after-school clubs. In high schools, only official teachers can lead chess groups, and most of them are certified Austrian Chess Teachers.

Impact & Evaluation

12. How do you evaluate or measure the effectiveness of your CiE programs (if applicable)?	Once a year, a state conference is held in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, bringing together all heads of school chess from the federal states to review and discuss progress and outcomes.
13. Are there any studies or evidence showing the impact of CiE in your country (if applicable)?	Yes. The number of school chess groups in Austria has been steadily increasing for many years, showing clear growth and sustained interest in Chess in Education.
14. Can you share a success story or example of impact from a student or school?	One inspiring example is Dominik Horvath, born on August 29, 2003, in Kleinhöflein, a district of Eisenstadt, Burgenland’s capital. His passion for chess began at the age of eight when he joined a school chess course at Kleinhöflein Elementary School. From there, his dedication and talent grew rapidly. Dominik became a FIDE Master (FM) in 2016, an International Master (IM) in 2018, and the U16 Blitz Chess World Champion in 2019. He earned his first Grandmaster (GM) norm in Iceland in 2021, followed by his second in France and third in Croatia in 2023. Two years after finishing high school, he achieved the title of Chess Grandmaster in 2024. His journey beautifully demonstrates how school chess can spark lifelong growth and achievement.

Vision & International Cooperation

15. What challenges do you face in expanding Chess in Education in your country, and what solutions are you exploring?	The biggest challenge is the shortage of qualified chess teachers. We are addressing this by training more chess players to become certified School Chess Teachers.
16. How do you see collaboration among CiE Ambassadors enhancing your national work?	Through their experience and international networks, CiE Ambassadors can share valuable knowledge and best practices, helping us improve and expand our national programs.
17. Are there any cultural or educational factors that shape how chess is taught in your country?	Chess is widely recognised as a sport in Austria, and many schools and parents appreciate the educational and developmental benefits it offers to children. This positive attitude supports the continued growth of Chess in Education.