Chessveda, Commonwealth Chess Association partner to expand online chess

Chessveda has partnered with the Commonwealth Chess Association (CCA) to expand online chess competitions across Commonwealth nations, with the collaboration set to explore online Chess Olympiads, hybrid tournaments, and other international chess initiatives. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, . The ceremony was attended , Grandmasters, International Masters and other members of the chess community.According to FIDE, the partnership will focus on orgsing online tournaments, championships and other chess-related events, creating additional opportunities for players, coaches, orgsers and chess communities across member nations.Building a digital competition networkFor Chessveda, the partnership provides an opportunity to connect its digital infrastructure with an established international chess association and explore competitive formats across multiple countries.The platform brings together online chess, learning and training, tournaments, coaching, chess communities and chess-related content. Its proposed role extends beyond providing a place to play, with the partnership also exploring how digital competitions can connect grassroots players with international events.“We envision orgsing online Chess Olympiads and other major championships at a global level,” Jha said.He added that the aim was to provide grassroots talent with opportunities to compete on global platforms and showcase their abilities internationally.The proposed initiatives could give players access to competitions without requiring them to travel internationally, although the orgsations have not yet announced a tournament calendar, participating countries or specific event formats.Complementing traditional chessFor the CCA, the agreement is intended to expand participation while retaining its existing over-the-board activities.“We are delighted to formalise this partnership with Chessveda and welcome them as an official partner for online chess,” Chauhan said.He added that the collaboration would help the association explore new formats while complementing its existing competitions.The partnership is therefore not a replacement for traditional chess tournaments. Instead, online and hybrid events are being explored as additional channels for participation across the Commonwealth.The agreement comes as the chess community gathers in Samarkand for the 46th Chess Olympiad, providing an international setting for the two orgsations to formalise their collaboration.The next step will be developing suitable tournaments and championships, with the CCA and Chessveda expected to work together on initiatives that can widen access to competitive chess across Commonwealth nations.