Opening moves in Alexandria: World Schools Team Championship 2025 begins

by ChessBase
8/4/2025 – The World Schools Team Championship 2025 officially got underway at Episcopal High School, located in the historic city of Alexandria, just outside Washington, D.C. A flagship event in the global scholastic chess calendar, the tournament brings together hundreds of students representing nearly 50 countries. | Photos: Michal Walusza
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FIDE press release

The World Schools Team Championship 2025 officially got underway at Episcopal High School, located in the historic city of Alexandria, just outside Washington, D.C. A flagship event in the global scholastic chess calendar, the tournament brings together hundreds of students representing nearly 50 countries. While the players are here to compete for international glory, the championship is equally a celebration of friendship, diversity, and shared passion for the game of chess.

With participants ranging from unrated newcomers to seasoned International Masters, the tournament features a remarkable mix of talent and potential. This variety has already led to a wide spectrum of exciting games in the early rounds. At the top of the starting rankings is Kazakhstan’s National School of Physics and Mathematics, led by newly titled Grandmaster Edgar Mamedov, with a formidable average rating of 2229. Close behind is India’s Velammal MHS School, averaging 2210. The host country, the United States, is represented by four schools. Leading the American contingent is University High School, which holds third place in the starting rankings with an average team rating of 2003.

The tournament’s first round began promptly at 11:30. Ceremonial first moves were made on the top four boards by distinguished guests: FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the International School Chess Federation Timur Turlov, Minister of Educational Transformation of Barbados Hon. Chad Blackman, and Minister of Sport and Recreation of Costa Rica Donald Rojas Fernández.

In the opening round, the top-seeded teams performed as expected, securing confident victories over their lower-ranked opponents. However, the second round saw the competition intensify as more closely matched teams faced off across the boards. By the end of the day, 11 teams secured wins in both rounds and concluded Day 1 with a perfect score of 4 match points.


KAZ – National School of Physics and Mathemat
IND – Velammal MHS School
ENG – Hampton
KAZ – Seed Educational Complex
NZL – Wellington College
SRI – Royal College, Colombo
KAZ – Astana 2 RSPM
USA – The Harker School
SGP – Raffles Institution
GRE – 1st General Lyceum of Xanthi
AUT – Privates Gymnasium Sacre Coeur Wien

Moment of the day

SUI – Kantonsschule Alpenquai Luzern SGP vs Raffles Institution
Board 4: Infanger, Philip vs Loh, Yang Hao

Our moment of the day comes from board 4 in the match between Singapore’s Raffles Institution and Switzerland’s Kantonsschule Alpenquai Luzern. The match delivered one of the day’s biggest surprises, as the 19th-seeded Raffles Institution defeated the fifth seed by a commanding 3:1 score.

The spotlight moment unfolded in a tense endgame after a rollercoaster battle where both sides had chances. In the critical position, White played 60.Kd5??, a decisive mistake that allowed Black to break through with 60…Kg6 61.Ke5 h5 62.gxh5 Kxh5. With the white king cut off, it could no longer stop Black’s advancing passed pawn, especially with the black king perfectly placed to shepherd it forward.

Instead, the correct move was 60.Kf3, keeping the white king in front of the pawns, and ready for opposition – a key principle in pawn endgames. One possible line would be 60…Kg6 61.Kg3 h5 62.gxh5 Kxh5 63.Kh3, where the white king maintains opposition, denying Black any meaningful progress.

Rounds 3 and 4 will be played on Monday, August 4, and after eight rounds, the tournament champions will be crowned on August 6. As the competition continues, so does this unique celebration of youth, talent, and international friendship through chess.

Starting list

No. Team EloDS Captain
1
KAZ - National School of Physics and Mathemat 2229 Yegenberdiyev, Sayat
2
IND - Velammal MHS School 2210 Subbiah, Velavan
3
USA - University High School 2007 Porat, Oren
4
LAT - Riga State Gymnasium No 1 1998 Zeimanis, Janis
5
SUI - Kantonsschule Alpenquai Luzern 1970 Fischer, Lukas
6
KAZ - Seed Educational Complex 1959 Muhituly, Suleimen Kuanysh
7
SVK - Gymnázium, Grösslingová 18, Bratislava 1958 Sabóová, Kristína
8
ENG - Hampton 1946 John, Stuart
9
USA - The Harker School 1944 Wang, Jeffery
10
KAZ - Astana 2 RSPM 1904 Zhalgasbayeva, Botakoz
11
AUT - Privates Gymnasium Sacre Coeur Wien 1884 Radnaev, Vitaly
12
NED - Huygenslyceum 1857 Schuurman, Petra
13
NZL - Wellington College 1847 Vreeburg, Jenna
14
SRI - Royal College, Colombo 1842 Hettigama, Muditha Manujith
15
UZB - Wisdom 1840 Xalmatov, Yakubjon
16
HUN - Debreceni Fazekas Mihaly Gimnazium 1838 Mester, Gyula
17
BEL - Athénée royal Charler Rogier - Liège 1819 Battistelli, Alberto
18
GRE - 1st General Lyceum of Xanthi 1817 Papageorgiou, Paraskevas Efstathios
19
SGP - Raffles Institution 1814 Seow, Serene
20
ARM - Lyceum "Photon" OF Gyumri 1812 Khachatryan, Vahagn
21
PAK - City School 1771 Akhtar, Muhammad Saleem
22
EST - Narva Language Lyceum 1750 Tsiganova, Monika
23
KAZ - Astana 1 RSPM 1737 Kuanyshev, Rakhat
24
CRO - Fran Krsto Frankopan Krk 1718 Maraz, Katarina
25
KGZ - School-Gymnasium No.11, Karakol 1708 Dzhaparov, Medet
26
SLO - Prva OS Slovenj Gradec 1705 Spalir, Jernej
27
TUR - Istanbul Erkek High School 1679 Bali, Ismet
28
DEN - Giersings Realskole 1679 Christiansen, Chris
29
MGL - 1st school 1672 Enkhtuul, Altan-Ulzii
30
GEO - Kutaisi School 41 1660 Arsenidze, Aleksandre
31
ISR - Hillel 1650 Drori, Dan
32
CAN - Renert School 1650 Wang, Yao
33
PAN - The Oxford School 1635 Sanchez, Jorge
34
CYP - The Grammar School Limasso 1629 Stefanidi, Maria Anna
35
BAR - Queens College 1620 Elcock, Corie
36
NOR - Slemdal skole 1594 Moe, Helene Tronstad
37
KAZ - IT Lyceum №.9 named after Zholdasb 1570 Sultanbek, Zeinep
38
USA - BASIS Cedar Park 1569 Manchanda, Mohit
39
MLT - De La Salle College 1563 Vella, Duncan
40
KAZ - Gymnasium D.Konaev 1560 Zhanashov, Bauyrzhan
41
FID - Intellect Academy 1534 Shukan, Aleksandr
42
CHN - Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School 1532 Xue, Shan
43
HON - Our Second Home 1528 Bobadilla, Yelso
44
POL - Primary School nr 1 1512 Wysocki, Pawel
45
LTU - TASKIUS Science & Art School 1509 Sidabras, Jonas
46
ISL - Hvaleyrarskóli 1508 Jóhannsdóttir, Jóhanna Björg
47
CZE - ZŠ u sv. Štěpána 1505 Hrbek, Přemysl
48
CHI - Antofagasta International School 1474 MESIAS, RABINDRANATH
49
GHA - Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School 1458 Ameku, Philip Elikem
50
OMA - Ammar Bin Yaser School 1447 Al Hinai, Hamdan
51
KEN - Mudasa Academy 1430 Mudany, Velma
52
TJK - Horizon Private School 1427 Isaev, Jamshed
53
ZIM - Dominican Convent High School 1403 Shamuyarira, Phyllis
54
PUR - Academia Interamericana Metro 1400 Julia, Ana
55
USA- Fallon Middle School 1400 Eric Yo-Ping, Lai

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