On November 27th, the first was successfully held online. This is the first intercontinental network tournament in the history of Chinese chess. Using chess as a bridge between North America and Europe to highlight the spirit of community, and write a new chapter in the promotion of chess culture.

The tournament was organized by Confucius Institute in Quebec, Canada and Confucius Institute in Dublin, Ireland, and co-organized by Confucius Institute in Coquitlam, Canada and Confucius Institute at the University of Helsinki, Finland, with the North American Chess Federation and European Chess Federation as the tournament guides and team organizers.

A short opening ceremony was held virtually before the online tournament. Ms. Meng Rong, director of the Confucius Institute in Quebec, Canada, praised “Although the epidemic is still raging our contest is in full swing! This is an unprecedented tournament across Europe and America, a tournament of immense significance, and it is all because of Chinese chess.”

Wang Liming, the foreign director of Confucius Institute of National University of Dublin, Ireland, said “Xiangqi is a treasure in the Chinese cultural garden and a national treasure. It is the Confucius Institute’s due responsibility to promote Chinese chess overseas. At this time when the COVID19 epidemic is raging, may this tournament bring a pleasant breeze to the majority of chess players, and may the wind of overseas chess promotion blow across the land of Europe and America.”

Mr. Xue Zhong, Secretary General of the European Chess Federation, said in his congratulatory speech that European and American countries are key influencers of chess promotion overseas. In this tournament, European Chess Federation organized 10 chess players from 8 countries to form the European Confucius Institute Team:

• Germany
• Greece
• England
• Finland
• Italy
• Belarus
• Spain
• Ireland

Ten players from Canada and the United States form the North American Confucius Institute Team, which includes male and female both Chinese and Chinese-Americans. There are master-level Chinese chess players and young chess enthusiasts. The tournament not only serves to meet friends through chess, but also serves to promote Chinese chess and Chinese culture overseas through the platform of Confucius Institute.

The online opening ceremony was attended by Consul Jiang Yu and Consul Huo Fuhai of the Chinese Consulate General in Montreal, Zheng Qinlin, President of the North American Chess Federation, Sergej Korchiskij, Vice President of the European Chess Federation and President of the Belarusian Chess Association, Jiang Wei, Executive President of the Quebec Chess Association of Canada, and Li Wei, Director of the Confucius Institute in Coquitlam, Canada, and other guests. Mr. Zhu Guoping, First Vice-President of the World Chess Federation, President of the Chinese Chess Academy and Director of the Chess and Cards Sports Management Center of the State General Administration of Sports, expressed his warm congratulations on the success of the tournament. Finally, the tournament was opened by Mr. Kai Xiao, Director of Confucius Institute Management Center of Beijing Normal University and Chinese partner of Confucius Institute in Quebec.

After two intense games between 10 international players, the strong European Confucius Institute Team won the championship with a total score of 28:12 against the North American Confucius Institute Team.

The match was also sponsored by Mr. Zheng Qinlin, Vice President of the World Chess Federation and President of the North American Chess Federation, and was broadcast live on the Chinese and European Chess Super Group.

Pu Fang Yao, the international grandmaster of chess, also explained the two non-Chinese matches live on the Express platform, which was extremely popular.

The chess fans watched this wonderful international tournament through Tencent Daily Chess 235089 (UEFA chess club number)! We look forward to seeing you next year at the Confucius Cup to watch the European and American Confucius Institute teams battle again!