An old game becomes a modern tool for education, leadership, and equality

Parents and teachers continue to wonder how it’s possible to help kids concentrate, develop strategic thinking and emotional intelligence without using gadgets in times of short videos, likes, and endless scrolling on TikTok.

At the Smart Moves Summit 2025 international conference, held in Alexandria, near Washington, D.C. (USA) as part of the World Schools Team Chess Championship (WSTC), an unexpected answer was given: chess is the secret weapon in the battle for children’s attention.

One of the keynote speakers, Timur Turlov, CEO of Nasdaq-listed Freedom Holding Corp. and President of the International School Chess Federation, said: “Chess is not just a game with a history, it is a reflection of the future. We live in an era of intellectual challenge, and in this new world, it is not strength that wins but thinking.”

Some consider chess to be a hobby “for nerds,” but modern research and teachers’ experience prove otherwise. According to data presented by experts at the summit, children who play chess perform better in math, natural sciences, and languages. Chess also develops emotional control, memory, attention, creative thinking, and even helps very young children learn to count, solve logic puzzles, and work in a team. Chess is an educational methodology, many teachers believe.

Participants of the summit also recognize chess as a tool for equality and inclusion. Can chess be a bridge between children from different countries, social classes, and cultures? Conference speakers, including renowned chess player and activist Jennifer Shahade, are convinced that it can.

It is easy to integrate chess into school programs – no expensive equipment is required, and the game could be played by people of any gender and income level. Speakers of any language could play chess, uniting multilingual and multicultural classrooms. In times of migration, crises, and displaced families, chess becomes a tool for inclusion and equal access to knowledge.

Where technology meets tradition

At first glance, the idea of combining an ancient board game with modern technology seems strange. But participants in Smart Moves 2025 spoke of the symbiosis between chess and EdTech as an educational revolution. Today, children learn chess online, using interactive platforms, artificial intelligence, streaming, and mobile applications.

However, even though properly integrated technology does not distract but rather engages, it is important to remember: technology is a tool, not a goal. The main thing is not to complicate, but to improve the learning process.

Why is the NASDAQ CEO promoting chess among children?

The business community’s interest in chess education raises questions. Why is Timur Turlov, the head of a public company, so actively investing in chess programs and international tournaments?

“We invest in children because they are the ones who will build the future. Chess is one of the most powerful tools for teaching them to think, make decisions, and take responsibility,” he explains.

Inspired by the success of the first WSTC in Kazakhstan in 2023, Timur Turlov initiated the creation of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) — a new global platform for the exchange of educational ideas.

Can chess education change schools?

Participants at the summit sought the answer to this question. They believe that chess can redefine education: not by replacing the school curriculum, but by enhancing it. By combining tradition and innovation, chess is creating new learning formats that can even compete with TikTok.

In the battle between the two, it’s not so obvious who the winner is. While TikTok is entertaining, chess is educational. It not only trains the brain but also the character, teaching players to be strategists, thinkers, and global citizens.

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