The official launch of the groundbreaking C.E.S.S. project – “Competences and Higher Education through Chess” took place yesterday at a major launching conference in Bucharest, marking a transformative milestone for the sport.
The conference was opened by legendary former World Champion Garry Kasparov, who emphasized that the introduction of the C.E.S.S. project represents a historical moment for chess both in Europe and worldwide. Kasparov expressed his gratitude to the Romanian Chess Federation, its President Mr. Vlad Ardeleanu, and the Super Foundation – the largest supporter of chess in Romania and Europe.
Following Kasparov’s opening remarks, the President of the Romanian Chess Federation, Mr. Vlad Ardeleanu, presented the core pillars of the initiative to the distinguished guests and participants. He highlighted the strategic importance of this EU-funded project, which focuses heavily on digitalizing the sport. At its heart is the creation of a state-of-the-art integrated IT platform designed to streamline club management, competition organization, player affiliation, and chess education.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili – President of the European Chess Union, Mr. Jean-Michel Rapaire – ECU Vice President, and the legendary chess coach and Olympic gold medalist GM Ivan Sokolov, alongside numerous other prominent figures from the chess world.
The opening addresses were followed by a high-level panel discussion titled “The Digital Future of Romanian Chess“, featuring key institutional leaders: President of National Sport Agency Constantin Bogdan Matei, Director of OIPSI Ana Maria Busoniu, Authority for Romania’s Digitalization – Head of Programs and Projects Department Alina Paralala, Director of the National Mint Octavian Schen, and Special Telecommunication Services representative Claudiu Ghera.
A second panel shifted the focus to global standards, exploring “International Best Practices in Chess Digitalization.” This session brought together prominent European chess leaders, including: the ECU Secretary General Mr. Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou, FIDE Management Board Executive Director Mr. Victor Bologan, President of Icelandic Chess Federation Ms. Johanna Bjorg, Secretary General of Slovenian Chess Federation Ms. Nina Rob, and Secretary General of Serbian Chess Federation Ms. Bojana Bejatovic.
About C.E.S.S. project – “Competences and Higher Education through Chess”
The C.E.S.S. Project (“Competences and Higher Education through Chess”) is a pioneering EU-funded initiative awarded to the Romanian Chess Federation under the Smart Growth, Digitalization and Financial Instruments Programme 2021-2027 (PoCIDIF).
With a total investment of €4.5 million, this stands as one of the most significant European funding achievements in the history of chess. It serves as a powerful testament to the sport’s growing recognition as a tool for education, modern competitiveness, and digital transformation.
By building a comprehensive digital ecosystem, the project will fully modernize the operations of the Romanian Chess Federation, elevating administrative standards for hundreds of thousands of players, clubs, and stakeholders in Romania, Europe, and worldwide. The official launch on 14 May 2026 sets a new benchmark for chess administration across Europe.
