For the fourth time the Judit Polgar Chess Foundation presented the Goodwill Ambassadors of Chess Awards. The Awards are given to notable promoters of chess who have furthered the role and the values of the game of chess in their fields.
In 2021 the trophies went to:
Purling London – Goodwill Ambassador of Chess in Art (received by James McCarthy, director of Purling Limited)
Since 2012, Purling of London has striven to bring back into people’s lives much loved board games (with a focus on chess) and playing cards, weaving contemporary designs and collaborations with heritage and history. Over the years Purling has collaborated with over 30 artists from across the globe. Purling’s charity work has been focused around the Chess in Schools and Communities charity in the United Kingdom. Recently they attended the CSC’s Trafalgar Square event to show their product and help foster an interest in chess amongst younger people. In 2022 Purling will launch a range of new lines and roll out new artist projects to build on their ten-year anniversary.
Kenneth Rogoff– Goodwill Ambassador of Science and Chess
Kenneth Rogoff is Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Economics at Harvard University. From 2001-2003, Mr. Rogoff served as Chief Economist and Director of Research at the International Monetary Fund. Mr. Rogoff is also a chess grandmaster, who played professionally in his younger years before resuming his university studies. His interest in chess has never disappeared and he remains a vocal promoter of the benefits of chess. Over the past years he has been a guest at many high-profile chess events. In 2012 he played a promotional rapid game against world’s number 1 Magnus Carlsen and in 2016, he joined Judit Polgar in the commentary studio during the World Championship match between Carlsen and Karjakin in New York. Mr. Rogoff is also a member of FIDE’s Global Strategy Commission.
Jerry Nash – Goodwill Ambassador of Chess in Education
As National Chess Education Consultant for the Alabama Chess in Schools initiative, Jerry Nash believes in the power of chess to enable student success – both in and out of the classroom. His experience as a trainer has provided ample evidence that when teachers introduce chess to students, they create the opportunity for students to develop the skills they need to be successful. Mr. Nash has emerged as a leader in the growing international Chess in Education movement. In 2019, he was appointed to the FIDE – EDU (World Chess Federation Education Commission) Workgroup: High Quality Standards for Chess Education. In 2021, he joined both the FIDE-EDU Strategy Group and FIDE-EDU Certification and Endorsement Group, both tasked with outlining FIDE’s goals and strategies for Chess in Education over the next four years.
Viswanathan Anand – Goodwill Ambassador of Chess as a Sport
Viswanathan Anand is a five-time Chess World Champion and one of the most successful champions the game has ever seen. His tournament record is phenomenal and besides the classical world title he also won world titles in rapid and blitz chess. In 1988, Anand became the first Indian chess grandmaster ever. With his fabulous successes and his endearing personality, Anand inspired many Indian youngsters to play chess and follow in his footsteps and today the country has 67 grandmasters (and counting). In the September 2021 FIDE world rankings, Anand remains the highest rated Indian grandmaster. How active he will remain in the years ahead, only he knows, but in any case it’s great for the future of Indian chess that besides the promotional activities for chess that he has been doing for many years, Anand has started coaching Indian youngsters.
Former winners were:
In 2020
Simen Agdestein – Goodwill Ambassador of Chess as a Sport
Oscar Panno – Goodwill Ambassador of Chess in Education
Jan Timmann – Goodwill Ambassador of Art in Chess
John Nunn – Goodwill Ambassador of Science in Chess
In 2019
Vladimir Kramnik – Goodwill Ambassador of Chess as a Sport
Leontxo Garcia – Goodwill Ambassador of Chess in Education
Demis Hassabis and Alpha Zero – Goodwill Ambassador of Science in Chess
Pal Benko – Goodwill Ambassador of Art in Chess
2018
The Goodwill Ambassadors of Artistic Values of Chess title was awarded to:
American artist Yoko Ono
French composer Jason Kouchak
Chilean singer-songwriter Juga
Hungarian pianist Gergely Bogányi
Hungarian-American designer and painter Sam Havadtoy
