The Judit Polgar Chess Foundation organized the international Educational Chess Summit for the fourth time as part of the Judit Polgar Global Chess Festival, but 2024 was the first time we promoted it as an independent, open, live event, organized in partnership with FIDE and the European Chess Union. The attendance and success of the conference exceeded our expectations. Over 120 education professionals and experts attended the event in person at the Budapest InterContinental’s conference room, while 2,500 joined the online broadcast.
- Each year, the conference explores the role and importance of chess in education from new perspectives, showcasing innovative methods, tools, and results for its application. This year’s central theme was INSPIRATION. Among the more than 20 presentations and interviews, we discussed topics such as:
- Chess as a tool for social integration and as a generational bridge in South Africa, Germany, Denmark, and several countries in North and Latin America,
- The developmental and catalytic role of chess in early childhood,
- The therapeutic benefits of chess in relation to ASD (autism spectrum disorder), cognitive decline, and rehabilitation in prisons.
The chief patron of the Global Chess Festival and the conference was Ernő Rubik, inventor, game designer, sculptor, and architect. We invited individuals from around the world to Budapest who are bringing fresh perspectives to education and driving change, as well as renowned foreign and domestic experts who have significantly contributed to making chess a regular part of preschools and schools. Through their work, they have introduced tens of thousands of children to chess and contributed to the training of thousands of educators and teachers. Our speakers included: Pep Suarez, psychologist, chess instructor, and tournament organizer (Spain), Dijana Dengler, teacher and chess instructor at Overseas Family School (Singapore), Maurice Ashley, chess grandmaster and instructor (USA), Fernando Moreno, psychologist and education expert (USA), and Maria Anna Stefanidi, social anthropologist, marketing specialist, and founder of a chess academy (Cyprus).
At the conference, Dijana Dengler and Fernando Moreno received the Goodwill Ambassador of Chess in Education award.
“You will not believe it, but dance and chess is a winning combination. Do not be shy, our children are not shy.” Dijana Dengler
“Recognize their struggles but believe deeply in every child.” Fernando Moreno
The conference hosts were Leontxo García, chess journalist and education expert, and Judit Polgar, chess education ambassador and the professional leader of our foundation.
For detailed information about the speakers and their topics, click HERE.
The summit can be viewed HERE
