Annual General Assembly 2025

The Annual General Assembly of the International Society for Applied Chess was held on July 25, 2025,  in the building of the Center "Chovekolubie", Pazardzhik, Bulgaria. Members and like-minded people from Bulgaria, Germany, Spain and Kazakhstan took part in the work of the General Assembly.

A review of the membership was made, a report on the organization's activities for 2024 and a financial report were presented. The members of the ISAC adopted an operational work plan for 2025 and a budget. The active participation of Prof. Sabine Vollstaedt-Klein from Germany in promoting the organization's activities was noted

The participants in the General Assembly voted unanimously to declare October 8th as International Applied Chess Day. The ISAC's participation in the initiatives of the World Chess Federation - FIDE, which declared 2025 the Year of Social Chess, was discussed. The organization was invited to include a memorandum of cooperation with FIDE.

Participation in a FIDE conference

Participation in a FIDE conference

 

On February 22, 2025, the International Society for Applied Chess (ISAC) participated in an International online Conference on the topic of "Researching Social Chess". The event was organized by the World Chess Organization - FIDE, on the occasion of declaring 2025 the "Year of Social Chess".

The conference brought together more than 80 researchers, educators, practitioners and chess enthusiasts who are exploring the contribution of chess to improving the quality of life, promoting social development, inclusion, empowerment and rehabilitation. Virtual rooms with social chess applications were set up for different target groups: chess for freedom (prisoners), chess for protection (refugees), endless chess (people with autism), chess for longevity (elderly people), chess for change and hope (underserved communities), chess for recovery (addictions and serious illnesses).

The Chairwoman of the Standards Committee at the International Society for Applied Chess, Prof. Sabine Vollstaedt-Klein, participated with a presentation on ‘Why chess is good for the brain and it can be helpful against addiction”. She presented her research and introduced the participants to the ideas and activity of the International Society for Applied Chess. The conference also includes the chairman of the ISAC – Radislav Atanasov Ph. D., who assessed the organization's participation in the FIDE initiative as the most important until now event.  Councillor to Social Commission of FIDE and conference presenter – Mrs. Prabitha Urvyler, showed interest in the ISAC and desire for membership.

From headquarters of the ISAC in Pazardzhik was organized presence on site of members and sympathizers.

Annual General Assembly 2024

Annual General Assembly 2024

The Annual General Assembly of the International Society for Applied Chess was held on July 19, 2024, in the chess hall of the National Sports Academy "Vаsil Levski", Sofia, Bulgaria. The meeting was attended by members from Bulgaria and Germany.

Membership was discussed, a report on the activities of the ISAC for 2023 and a financial report were made. An operational work plan for 2024 and a budget were adopted.

Among the most discussed additional topics was the admission of ISAC to the World Chess Federation - FIDE. Opposing opinions were expressed and after a vote it was adopted to study the conditions for application.

International Family Chess Tournament

International Family Chess Tournament

An International Family Chess Tournament was held in July 2024 at National Sports Academy „Vasil Levski”, Sofia, Bulgaria. The event was initiated by the International Society for Applied Chess. Participants from Germany and Bulgaria took part in it. The idea of the tournament is for chess players to develop skills in collective decision-making and tolerant play.