International Chess Day is on July 20. Many clubs and organizations, such as the International Chess Foundation or FIDE, plan to celebrate it. Another reason for celebration: it’s the 100th anniversary of their organization. International Chess Day was first proposed by the UNESCO or United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1966 and has been celebrated since then!

Here are some facts about this day:

• International Chess Day was started by the International Chess Federation or the FIDE, founded in 1924.
• The FIDE’s main slogan is “Gens una sumus,” translated to “We are one Family,” and it represents more than 201 countries.
• The FIDE says more than 60 million chess games are played daily.
• Chess is usually associated with wealth and power, as England in the 15th century saw it as a “royal game.”
• The exact origins of chess are unknown, though the first known instance of it likely came from the 7th century Indian war game “Chaturanga.”
• On July 20, 2024, FIDE plans to set a Guinness World Record to have as many chess games played in 24 hours! Check out the online chess games to participate in this effort. You only need to play 5 minutes online or in one of the apps provided.

Here are a few more things you can do on International Chess Day:

1. See if any local places have chess competitions.
2. Watch a video on the history of chess.
3. Teach someone else to play chess if you already know how.
4. Sign up for a chess tournament if one is happening locally.

Stretch your brain on International Chess Day by playing a game (or multiple games) of chess!

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