Poland's Olympiad Gold and the Work of Welcoming Every Player

Retrospective edition for 18 September 2026, published 11 October 2026.

The result from Samarkand

Poland won the third FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities on 17 September, finishing unbeaten with six match wins and one draw. Its 13 match points put it ahead of Cuba on 12 and Uzbekistan 1 on 11. FIDE reported a record field of 41 teams, with this edition staged alongside the main Olympiad in the same city and period. Read FIDE's final report.

Related viewing: FIDE's official closing-ceremony video, published on 17 September.

Make welcome a practical action

For an everyday chess group, this story suggests a useful question: what would help someone else take part comfortably?

Start by asking the person. A preferred board display, clearer piece contrast, a quieter room, more time to discuss a position, or written instructions can change the experience. Different players need different things. Avoid assuming that one adjustment suits everyone, and make it easy to request a change without explaining personal circumstances.

If you organise an informal session, describe the arrangements beforehand. Say where it happens, how long it lasts, whether the pace is casual, and whom a newcomer should approach. A clear invitation gives someone useful information before they commit their time.

A twenty-minute partner exercise

Choose a position from a completed game that both players are happy to discuss. Spend the first five minutes identifying whose turn it is, which pieces are under attack, and what each side might want next. Let each person describe the board in the format they prefer.

Use the next ten minutes to compare two candidate moves. Take turns giving a reason for your choice and finding the opponent's reply. Resist rushing to an engine verdict: the purpose is to understand the other person's reasoning.

Finish with five minutes of feedback about the session itself. Ask which explanation was clear, which part felt rushed, and what would make another session easier. Agree one adjustment for next time.

A community grows through repeat invitations

Winning attracts attention; a welcoming experience can give people a reason to return. Invite a friend to a relaxed game, agree the pace together, and make room for a conversation afterwards. The useful measure is whether both people would choose to play again.