FIDE commits to revitalising chess in the country

Nigel David Short, the member of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Board responsible for world chess development, began a three-day working visit to Kinshasa on Tuesday 18 July, as part of his African tour. He was warmly welcomed by officials from the Congolese Chess Federation (Fecojec).

The visit is part of a drive to revitalise this sporting discipline in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has a long history in this field but has suffered a significant decline due to low popularity. The programme includes meetings with all the country's authorities and sports leaders, from the Minister of Sport to the President of the Congolese Olympic Committee (COC).

After his meetings with the officials, this international chess grandmaster will hold a simultaneous exhibition game, in which he will take on 20 of our best players. At the end of the game, a press conference will be held to allow Nigel David Short to answer questions from the media.

Chess clubs have begun to form and are now present in Kinshasa as well as in several provinces, notably Kongo Central, where there is even an academy, Grand Katanga, and North and South Kivu. The visit of this representative of the International Chess Federation is therefore of the utmost importance for the future of this sport in our country.