As educators, we often talk about the application of chess “beyond the board”. It is great to see when Chess Federations help turn that idea into practice and encourage schools to use chess as an educational tool. Vera Avramidou, ECU Chess in Education Ambassador for Greece and School Chess Officer of the Greek Chess Federation, shared a wonderful initiative that does exactly this. With the launch of the 2nd National Student Competition“Chess Creations with Verses, Colours and Numbers”, Greece is demonstrating how federations can actively support creative, school-based projects that allow children to experience and explore chess through art, language and imagination.
2nd National Student Competition “Chess Creations with Verses, Colours and Numbers“
shared by Vera Avramidou
Chess has a unique way of stepping beyond the board and finding its place in imagination, art and learning. That idea sits at the heart of the 2nd National Student Competition “Chess Creations with Verses, Colours and Numbers”, a nationwide educational initiative in Greece that invites children to explore chess as a rich source of artistic and intellectual inspiration.
Organised by the Regional Directorate of Education of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with the support of the Regional Unit of Drama and the Municipality of Paranesti, and in collaboration with the Greek Chess Federation, the competition highlights chess as a powerful interdisciplinary tool that connects literature, visual arts, mathematics, design, and critical thinking.
An Educational Journey Through Art and Strategy
The competition aims to foster creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and interdisciplinary learning, using chess as a bridge between logical reasoning and artistic expression. Engaging students in creative production promotes linguistic, visual, and mathematical skills while encouraging teamwork and social interaction.
Participation is open to students from kindergartens, primary schools, and lower secondary schools (public and private) from all over Greece. Entries may be individual or group-based, depending on the category and educational level.
Five Creative Categories Inspired by Chess
Students are invited to submit original works in one of the following five creative categories:
- Poetry – poems inspired by the world, symbolism, or philosophy of chess
- Visual Arts – paintings or mixed-media artworks with a chess theme
- Chess Problem Creation – original chess puzzles (e.g. checkmate in 1–2 moves) with explanations
- Chess-Themed Crosswords – crosswords related to chess rules, history, and terminology
- 3D Design of Chess Pieces or Boards – digital or three-dimensional designs using tools such as Tinkercad or Blender
(Technical specifications and submission formats are detailed in the official call.)
The competition started in November 2025 and runs until Friday, 20 February 2026.
Evaluation and Awards
Entries will be assessed by a scientific and artistic evaluation committee, based on:
- originality and creativity
- meaningful connection to chess culture and thinking
- potential for promoting chess education
- aesthetic quality and presentation
The top two works per category and educational level will receive awards such as handcrafted wooden chessboards, chess sets, books, puzzles, and educational games. Additional distinguished works will be featured in a digital publication with an ISBN, while all participants and supervising teachers will receive certificates of participation. Award winners will be honoured at a special award ceremony.
In collaboration with the ECU Education Commission, we are happy to support the initiative that aligns with their mission and offer subsidised places on the ECU101 – The SMART Method to Teach Chess training course for teachers whose students came top in each category.
Collaborating Body
The official collaborating body of the competition is the Greek Chess Federation (GCF). This collaboration strengthens the educational and cultural character of the initiative, highlighting chess as a multifaceted tool that supports learning, creativity and intellectual development within the school environment.
An Open Invitation to Schools Across Greece
This innovative competition invites schools, educators, and students across Greece to showcase their creativity, imagination, and strategic thinking—proving that chess is not only a game of logic, but also a source of poetry, art, design, and inspiration.
Chess becomes a language. Creativity makes the next move.