Chess federation urges businesses and governments to invest in Africa’s young talent

International School Chess Federation (ISCF) president Timur Turlov is urging corporate leadership and governments to view chess not merely as a recreational activity, but as a strategic investment in human capital and cognitive development across Africa.

Speaking following the Africa Schools Team Chess Championship in Stellenbosch, which brought together 26 school teams from 22 African nations, Turlov outlined a structural blueprint to transition chess into mainstream education and build self-sustaining national ecosystems.

Building sustainable regional ecosystems

Rather than relying strictly on short-term philanthropic funding, Turlov highlighted that long-term continental growth depends on building self-sufficient member federations supported by government partnerships and private enterprise.

A primary operational reform is a redesigned continental qualification model for the World Schools Team Championship, aimed at reducing financial barriers and geographical friction for developing chess nations.

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Outlining the regional strategy, Turlov stated: “Africa is one of the most important regions for the future growth of chess. Its young population, a growing chess community and efforts to have greater public/state engagement with chess, present an extraordinary opportunity for the game.

“Our goal should not be to just find funds to help African federations. Our goal should be to help them help themselves by becoming sustainable and efficient.”

Education integration and workforce readiness

The strategy prioritises structured teacher-training programs and standardised educational materials to embed chess directly into national school curricula.

Citing institutional implementations in Kazakhstan, where chess was introduced to over 1 500 schools reaching more than 60 000 students, Turlov emphasised the cross-functional value of cognitive training for future workforces.

Detailing the underlying business logic, Turlov noted: “Chess teaches us how to think, prepare, make decisions, practice patience, calculate and make optimal decisions. These are valuable life skills, transferable to any other area of life or work.

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“By supporting chess and chess development, businesses also help the development of human capital, which they can tap into in the future. But that relationship between chess and business has to go beyond logo placement and must involve building a strong and stable connection between the sponsors and the chess community.”

Governance framework and digital infrastructure

Applying governance principles from managing global financial institutions across more than 20 countries, Turlov’s broader platform for the International Chess Federation (FIDE), alongside running mate Viswanathan Anand, focuses on centralised digital infrastructure.

The planned digital transformation aims to standardise federation operations, enhance management systems, and broaden service accessibility for ordinary players, remote clubs, and tournament organisers, regardless of geographic location.

Addressing administrative governance, Turlov said: “Having built an organisation in more than 20 countries with more than 20 000 people in our wider network, I have understood that sustainable growth requires a system, governance and clear responsibility and that is what we intend to implement in FIDE.”

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