Cape Town will host the first-ever African continental stage of the World Schools Team Chess Championship (WSTC) — a historic milestone for chess development on the continent. The event is part of FIDE's "Year of Chess in Education 2026" initiative. A key partner of the project is Freedom Holding Corp., which annually invests millions of dollars in global chess and educational initiatives. The tournament will take place in Cape Town from July 6 to 11, 2026, serving as the second qualifying stage of the world championship for school teams. Originally launched in Kazakhstan, the championship is now organized under the auspices of FIDE and ISCF, with ongoing support from Freedom Holding Corp.

Cape Town Becomes a Chess Capital

From July 6 to 11, 2026, Cape Town will host the African Continental Stage of the World Schools Team Chess Championship (WSTC) — a world championship for school teams. This marks the first time the tournament is being held in Africa. The event is organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), with strategic support from Freedom Holding Corp.

School teams from dozens of African countries will participate. Each team consists of four main players, one reserve, and a captain, with a mandatory minimum of one boy and one girl on the roster. Eligible participants are students born between 2012 and 2018.

The tournament will follow the Swiss system over eight rounds. Winners will earn direct qualification to the WSTC World Final, scheduled for December 2026. In addition to competitive play, participants will attend educational sessions, lectures, masterclasses, and networking events with renowned chess players and educators — activities aligned with FIDE's "Year of Chess in Education 2026" program.

Timur Turlov, President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), called the expansion of the championship an important step in the development of school chess worldwide:

"I am delighted to see the continental school championships expanding into Africa and the Americas. These initiatives represent a crucial step toward strengthening youth engagement and building sustainable chess ecosystems in both regions."

A Tournament That Unites Continents

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich emphasized that Africa is becoming one of the most promising regions for developing chess education. He stated that new continental tournaments will help accelerate the development of chess infrastructure and school programs.

The new WSTC cycle began in April 2026 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where 26 school teams from 19 Asian countries competed. The Wisdom School team from Tashkent claimed first place, followed by a Russian team in second and an Indian team in third.

Following the African stage, qualifying tournaments will be held in Europe, North America, and South America. The top school teams from around the world will then meet in the WSTC World Final in December.

The World Schools Team Chess Championship was launched in 2023, with its inaugural edition held in Kazakhstan. Since 2025, the championship has been officially conducted under the joint auspices of FIDE and ISCF. The initiative was spearheaded by Timur Turlov, Founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp.

Acquisition and Development of ChessBase

In April 2026, Freedom Holding announced the acquisition of ChessBase GmbH, a leading German developer of chess software, game databases, and analytical tools with a global reputation.

The holding company plans to invest approximately €5 million in platform development. Key objectives include modernizing the service, integrating artificial intelligence, and embedding ChessBase into Freedom's digital ecosystem. According to Freedom Holding's management, the acquisition will significantly expand access to cutting-edge chess technology for millions of users worldwide.

Investing in Education

Freedom Holding Corp. has become one of the largest private investors in chess development globally. Over several years, the company has allocated around $30 million to support the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess).

In 2026, Freedom Holding Corp. and FIDE signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, establishing Freedom as an official partner of the international federation for chess development programs. The agreement covers tournament organization, support for players and coaches, talent identification initiatives, and educational projects.

For Freedom Holding, chess is a strategic component of its long-term investment in education and human capital development. As Timur Turlov stated, the company views chess as a powerful tool for intellectual development and self-actualization among young people.

A Global Ecosystem from Kazakhstan

Freedom Holding Corp. is an international FinTech group headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The company operates in 22 countries, including the United States, European nations, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Its shares have been listed on NASDAQ since 2019. Since then, the company's share price has increased tenfold, while revenue has grown 26 times. The holding company's market cap now exceeds $8.5 billion. For FY 2026, group revenue reached $2.2 billion, with net profit amounting to $153.3 million.

The holding company's structure includes brokerage, banking, and insurance businesses, telecommunications assets, and digital services — all integrated into a single SuperApp platform. The total customer base of the Freedom ecosystem exceeds 14 million users. The company plans to launch a bank in France, acquire a financial institution in Turkey, and is evaluating entry into the U.S. financial market.