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A total of 25 teams with more than 350 children took part in this year’s international “Checkmate to Racism” online event hosted by FC Bayern Munich. This sixth edition of the traditional event set a new participation record. With teams from Hong Kong, Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Cyprus, Germany, Spain, Great Britain, Morocco, Suriname, Argentina, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands, the USA, Costa Rica, and El Salvador (from east to west), the event spanned 14 time zones. This was particularly impressive, as it was still very early in the morning for participants in Central America, while children in the Far East were already gathering in the evening. For children who did not belong to any registered team but still wanted to participate, a special global team was created, which several children – especially from Malaysia – joined at short notice.
During the one-hour introductory program held via video conference, the day’s theme – fighting intolerance and racism in our society – was highlighted. All departments of FC Bayern Munich are committed to this cause under the motto “Red Against Racism,” and the international online event of the chess department is part of this initiative, giving children around the world the opportunity to make their first cross-border connections.
But the fun of the game should not be neglected! The team tournament provided plenty of excitement, with a close race developing among six teams at the top. Throughout the one-hour playing time, the lead changed constantly, and in the end, the Suriname Chess Academy narrowly came out on top with 206 points, just ahead of Club de Ajedrez Magic Extremadura from Spain with 203 points. With 201 points each, the Overseas Family School from Singapore and the children from the English counties of Essex and Suffolk – who once again formed a joint team – finished in 3rd and 4th place. Congratulations to the winners and to all other teams for their truly interesting games and great results!
More than 250 children then took part in the subsequent individual tournament. Traditionally, several grandmasters are invited to play with the children and comment on their games live. This time, Àlvar Alonso Rosell and Michael Bezold—one current and one former player of FC Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga team—joined the event. This was a special highlight not only for the children who got to play a game against one of the grandmasters, but also for everyone who listened to the live commentary while playing their own games.
It was wonderful to see how much fun the participating children had, and the immediate feedback clearly showed that organizing the event was absolutely worthwhile. And the three hours spent in front of the screens definitely left everyone wanting more! (Wengler)
Cover photo:
Children in Guelmim (Morocco) participate in the tournament. (Source: Noun Gambit Association, Marocco)
Links to the websites of the participating teams:
- The Chess Academy (Hong Kong)
- Oversees Familiy School (Singapore)
- Metrix Chess Academy (Sri Lanka)
- FRITZ Chess Academy (India)
- Gambit Chess Club (Saudi Arabia)
- Thika Road Chess Club (Kenya)
- G C School of Careers (Cyprus)
- SIMBA Trainers Chess Academy (Cyprus)
- Morningside Montessori Elementary Private School (Cyprus)
- FC Bayern München (Germany)
- SV Werder Bremen (Germany)
- Federació Balear d'Escacs (Spain)
- East Anglian Junior Chess (United Kingdom)
- Madrid Chess Academy (Spain)
- Club de Ajedrez Magic Extremadura (Spain)
- Association Noun Gambit (Morocco)
- Suriname Chess Academy (Suriname)
- EIEI de Ajedrez Rosario (Argentina)
- Escuela de Ajedrez Colegio Castelao & Peña Alexandre Bóveda (Venezuela)
- Elmore Stoutt High School (British Virgin Islands)
- Bregado Flax Educational Centre (British Virgin Islands)
- Franklin Academy (Florida, USA)
- Academia de Ajedrez Trejos (Costa Rica)
- Colegio APCE Lamatepec (El Salvador)
- Checkmate to Racism – We are the World (Global Team)
Links to the tournaments on lichess.org
- Team tournament: Lichess.org Arena Team Battle
- Individual tournament: Lichess.org Arena Tournament