The Development History of Chess in Liaocheng

Liaocheng, honoured as one of the “Home of Chess” in China, took over the FISU flag in 2024 and was awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports.

Over 20 years of promotion have led to chess being taught in 300+ schools, with 400,000+ enthusiasts, producing many masters and a 200-strong coach-referee team, forming an integrated system.

Regular tournaments and high-level events like the China-India Chess Match and the Ring Star International Chess Tournament, together with the International Chess Day Chess Cultural Festival, have made Liaocheng a nationally renowned mind-sports city.