Our aim, as the Education Commission of the European Chess Union, is to give visibility to strong and successful Chess in Education projects from different countries and Chess Federations across Europe through our ECU Chess in Education Ambassador partnership and the ECU Chess in Schools Best Practice Award initiative.
The Chess in Schools project from the Czech Republic stands out as an example of good practice. It is clearly well thought through and carefully structured. Its success comes from a clear vision, taken seriously by the Czech Chess Federation and translated into a complete system that supports schools, teachers and pupils at every level.
When we look at it, we can see all the key elements that really matter in the bigger picture:
- a clear vision from the Czech Chess Federation, taking Chess in Education seriously as a long-term commitment
- well-defined conditions and expectations for schools and teachers, ensuring quality and consistency
- strong teacher training and qualification pathways, making sure educators are prepared and supported
- accessible teaching resources and platforms that help in real classroom delivery
- a network of regional coordinators, building a real community around the project
- financial support, showing that the project is truly supported
- alignment with the education system, helping schools integrate chess into the curriculum
- ongoing monitoring and reflection, allowing the project to evolve and improve
Looking at all these elements together, I think this is exactly why the project is successful. It is a lot of work and requires coordination among many people and roles, but when there is a clear structure, a shared vision and dedicated people behind it, it works.
This project is a strong example of how chess can be successfully implemented into schools when all the details are considered and supported as part of a larger, coherent system.
Read the detailed report about the project below from Venuše Souralová, ECU Chess in Education Ambassador for the Czech Republic
In September 2025, the 13th year of the nationwide Chess in Schools project (Šachy do škol / Šdš), organised by the Czech Chess Federation, was launched.
During the 2025/26 school year, a total of 255 institutions, including kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, as well as institutions such as Children and Youth Houses and Leisure Time Centres joined the project. Nearly 4,000 children began attending chess lessons, most commonly as part of afternoon extracurricular activities.
An encouraging trend is the growing participation of women in the programme, with 62 female teachers and coaches involved.
Teaching Resources for Schools
New schools joining the project for their first year receive two instructional resources free of charge for their coaches and teachers: Methodological Guide for Chess Coaches and Teachers and Collection of Chess Puzzles, both authored by Petr Herejk.
Every participating school receives free exercise books for pupils attending chess lessons, up to 25 copies (based on the number of children: 1 pupil / 1 copy per school year). These are the Chess Exercise Books authored by Martin Beil.
If a school requires additional copies, they can be ordered according to the price list of the Czech Chess Federation Fanshop. In exceptional cases, when a school exceeds the average number of children involved in chess education by several dozen (e.g. multiple groups or classes), it is possible to individually negotiate an increased number of free exercise books. This ensures continued support for well-established programmes that generate a high level of interest among children in after-school chess activities. Additionally, schools do not have to pay postage and packing for the first shipment, reducing administrative burden by eliminating the need to process invoicing for delivery costs.
My-Chess.com
All schools participating in the project have access to the educational chess platform My-Chess, which has served as the official Czech educational platform since September 2023. The platform was also developed by Martin Beil.
Through contractual cooperation with My-Chess s.r.o., each school coach or teacher receives one Premium licence, granting access to all educational features of the platform. Schools may also purchase discounted Premium licences for pupils (50% discount, 150 CZK).
At the same time, several core features remain available free of charge, including the Practice section and the online puzzle-solving competition for Šdš. Even without Premium access, My-Chess provides a high-quality supplement to chess education.
Training on how to use the platform is regularly included in ongoing professional development seminars for teachers and coaches, organised by the Trainers’ Commission of the Czech Chess Federation.
Competition in Solving Chess Puzzles
My-Chess.com also hosts an annual chess puzzle-solving competition; since September 2025, its 6th edition has been underway. The number of participants continues to grow each year. The main aim of the competition is to encourage children to practise tactics regularly.
To maximise motivation for both pupils and schools, the competition is evaluated monthly in the individual category. The top-performing participants, as well as randomly selected participants from the remaining group, receive prizes. These are sent to schools and typically consist of 3 + 3 packages of chess-themed gifts or items branded with the Chess in Schools logo, along with books provided by the competition sponsor, Knihy Dobrovský.
In addition, a team competition is evaluated in February and June, with the top teams receiving valuable chess equipment for their school clubs.
In the first half of the 2025/26 school year, 717 pupils from 82 different schools took part in the competition.
Teacher Preparation and Education – Online Course for Coaches
Since one of the requirements for participation in the project is having a qualified coach or teacher, educators have the opportunity to complete an online 4th-class training course and attend professional development meetings, regional training sessions held throughout the school year.
If participants are members of the Czech Chess Federation, there are no fees for course enrolment or certificate issuance. Non-members are required to pay a one-time fee of 500 CZK for individual membership (which provides them with a LOK registration number to access the course). Upon fulfilling the course requirements, participants receive the 4th-class trainer certificate at no additional cost.
The course content is divided into two pathways: one for chess players (chess coaches) and one for school teachers. Teachers are provided with materials that include a greater focus on chess-specific content, while chess players engage more deeply with topics from psychology and pedagogy.
In addition to the online course, the Chess in Schools project, in cooperation with regional chess federations, also organises in-person training sessions for teachers.
Photo gallery of the organizer – Training for teachers in Havlíčkův Brod 2025 (Vysočina region)
Additional Support
Schools also have access to downloadable support materials (e.g. diplomas) and, in limited quantities, can borrow chess equipment such as chess sets.
They can also consult and collaborate with regional Chess in Schools (CiS) coordinators, and make use of prepared documents and guidance materials that outline the links between chess education and the Framework Educational Programme for Basic Education (RVP ZV). These resources support schools in integrating chess into their own School Educational Programmes.
Financial Support
Schools that offer chess as a compulsory or elective subject within the regular timetable (i.e. as part of the school curriculum and free of charge for pupils) receive an additional contribution towards the teacher’s remuneration of 3,000 CZK per group.
Eligibility for this contribution is established upon signing a cooperation agreement between the school and the Czech Chess Federation by 30 October of the given school year.
The contribution is paid to the school’s account after submission of a final report on chess activities in June, at the end of the school year.
Project Requirements
- Register for the project each year by 20 October (via a Google Form). It is also possible to join later in the school year, with applications accepted until 31 January.
- Deliver chess lessons during the school year either as a curriculum subject or as an after-school club/group. Participation of at least 10 pupils is recommended, although smaller groups are permitted.
- Provide a minimum of 25 teaching sessions per group (1 session = 45 minutes; typically 12–13 sessions per semester).
- Ensure that lessons are led by a qualified coach or teacher who has either completed a chess-related course during their university studies or undertaken training organised by the Czech Chess Federation or Regional Chess Federations. This qualification may be completed by the end of November at the latest. Training can also be completed online (see: https://www.chess.cz/online-skoleni-treneru-4-tridy/).
Feedback
By 20 June, schools submit a brief report on the delivery of the programme to sachydoskol@chess.cz, including any comments or suggestions for future improvement. These reports are submitted by the club teachers.
The report should also indicate whether the school intends to participate in the Chess in Schools (CiS) project in the following school year.
If chess is delivered as a curriculum subject, the school is also required, alongside signing a cooperation agreement, to provide space within the school to present the CiS project (e.g. on a notice board or the school website).
Visibility and Promotion
Each year, a report on project activities is published as part of the Czech Chess Federation Annual Report submitted to the General Assembly.
Schools participating in the project receive self-adhesive identification labels with their shipments of exercise books, confirming their involvement in the Chess in Schools project. These are intended to be displayed at the main entrance of the school to raise awareness among pupils and parents.
Articles and updates on project activities are regularly published on the websites www.chess.cz and www.sachydoskol.cz, on social media, and in the Czech Chess Federation Newsletter, as well as on the websites of Regional Chess Federations. The project is also occasionally featured in wider media, including the professional magazine Coach, the Czech Television children’s programme Wifina, Snídaně s Novou, and Dobré ráno.
The Chess in Schools project is also regularly promoted during Children’s Day, held as a side event of the Prague International Chess Festival in June at the Don Giovanni Hotel.
Project Team
Regarding project staffing, each region of the Czech Republic has a dedicated coordinator responsible for chess activities in schools. Coordinators are typically nominated by the leadership of the relevant Regional Chess Federation or its Youth Commission, or appointed in agreement with the national project manager, who is a full-time employee of the Czech Chess Federation.
The role of the regional coordinator includes communication with schools, actively engaging new schools in the project, supporting the placement of coaches/teachers based on availability, and cooperating with the regional Youth Commission in organising school, district, and regional rounds of the School Team Championship.
A total of 70,000 CZK is allocated annually in the budget for coordinator remuneration (14 coordinators), paid once a year in December. The overall budget for the Chess in Schools project is published within the Czech Chess Federation’s budget under item V10.9; in 2026, it amounted to 230,000 CZK.
All collaborators and participants involved in the project deserve sincere thanks and deep appreciation for their dedication, time, and efforts in promoting the game of chess.
International Cooperation
Cooperation with three partners from the V4 countries significantly increased overall awareness of the Chess in Schools project among schools.
As part of a multi-month project (February–October 2023), fully funded by the Visegrad Fund, we conducted a thorough analysis of the state of chess in education across the V4 countries, in collaboration with partners from Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia.
