International Conference on Social and Educational Chess to be hosted in Jan 2026
Mail News Service
Bhubaneswar, Nov 1: In a landmark move to integrate chess with education and social development, KIIT Deemed to be University (KIIT-DU) has signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) and the All India Chess Federation (AICF) in Goa. The collaboration will see KIIT host the International Conference on Social and Educational Chess in January 2026.
This partnership is being hailed as a proud milestone for KIIT, KISS and the state of Odisha, showcasing the growing confidence of global sports bodies in Indian institutions. KIIT and KISS have long been recognized for their efforts to blend sports, education and social transformation, producing champions and changemakers across disciplines.
Over the years, KIIT has built strategic collaborations with prestigious organisations such as FIVB (Volleyball) and FIFA (Football), along with numerous national sports federations. The alliance with FIDE — the world’s apex chess body marks another significant achievement in this journey of promoting global standards in sports education.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT and KISS, said, “We are deeply honoured by the trust placed in us by FIDE President Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich, Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, AICF President Shri Nitin Narang and all dignitaries present at the MoU signing ceremony. Their appreciation of our vision to integrate education with sports and social transformation means a lot to us.”
Dr Samanta also thanked FIDE, AICF and the Odisha Chess Association for their continuous support, emphasizing that the collaboration aims to use chess as a powerful tool for education, inclusion and empowerment and to establish India as a leading force in the global chess movement.
