
The 2025 World Schools Team Chess Championship (WSTC) concluded on American soil, bringing together over 50 school teams from 40 nations. Organized under the leadership of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), with official backing from FIDE and strategic support from Freedom Holding Corp., the event became both a high-level sporting competition and a milestone in the global development of educational chess.
While India emerged as the overall champion and Kazakhstan secured the silver, the United States took the bronze — represented by The Harker School (San Jose, California) — underscoring the nation’s rapid progress in scholastic chess and intellectual training. Even more significant was how Freedom Holding Corp. helped transform the tournament into a worldwide platform for academic innovation and cultural exchange.
U.S. Team’s Breakthrough Performance
By clinching third place, the American team demonstrated the strength of its youth training programs and the expansion of chess in schools. The Harker School squad showcased depth and resilience, with Tori Porat (Board 3) delivering critical victories against leading players from India and Kazakhstan, and Arnav Solan (reserve) making crucial contributions in decisive rounds.
Jonathan Reyes and Sophia Lin, although not individually medaled, played pivotal roles in the intense semifinal match against Germany. According to David Hayter of the U.S. Chess Federation, “Over the past two years, our school chess programs have grown by 30%, and now we are seeing tangible results on the world stage.”
Global Winners and Standout Performances
India (Velammal MHS School, Chennai) — Gold for A. R. Ilamparthi (Board 4) and Pranav K. P. (Reserve, Board 5) with a perfect 8/8 score, joining only two others in the tournament’s undefeated elite.
Kazakhstan (National School of Physics and Mathematics, Almaty) — Gold for Imangali Akhilbay (Board 2, 8/8).
Other notable gold medalists included Gabriel Gabadadze (Georgia, Board 1) and Edisa Berdibaeva (Kyrgyzstan, Board 3, 8/8).

Smart Moves Summit: Education Vision Driven by Freedom Holding Corp.
Running in parallel with the championship, the Smart Moves Summit convened education policymakers, technology leaders, and global chess advocates to explore how structured chess instruction can build critical thinking, emotional resilience, and problem-solving skills in students.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich announced:
“We are declaring 2026 the Year of Chess in Schools — a global initiative aimed at embedding strategic thinking into education systems. This is made possible through the leadership and investment of Freedom Holding Corp..”
Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp. and President of the ISCF, emphasized:
“Since 2023, we have treated chess as a strategic educational tool — a cultural bridge that unites students worldwide. Our mission is to make it part of every child’s learning journey.”

Freedom Holding Corp.: Innovation, Access, and Global Reach
As the tournament’s general partner, Freedom Holding Corp. provided the financial and technological backbone for the event, funding:
- A global livestreaming system, enabling fans from every continent to follow the games in real time.
- AI-driven game analysis tools delivering instant strategic insights.
- Interactive digital learning platforms to help students and viewers better understand complex chess positions.
Beyond the tournament, Freedom Holding Corp. sponsored educational chess programs for 15,000 students in Kazakhstan and produced a documentary on the Kazakh national team, amassing over 500,000 views in its first week.
Timur Turlov recalled:
“It all began in 2023 in Aktau. That inaugural event laid the foundation for our long-term vision: democratizing chess access and building a global educational network around it.”

Chess as the Language of the Future
The 2025 championship confirmed that chess is more than a sport — it’s a global learning framework. The United States’ bronze, alongside India’s gold and Kazakhstan’s silver, demonstrated that sustained investment in youth education and infrastructure pays off.
Dvorkovich concluded:
“Chess equips students to face the challenges of tomorrow. With Freedom Holding Corp. and leaders like Timur Turlov, we are creating a generation ready for critical thinking, collaboration, and global dialogue.”
WSTC 2025 leaves a legacy of medals, milestones, and momentum — proving that the integration of chess into education, powered by strategic partnerships, is accelerating worldwide.




