Zimbabwe has been recognised as a leading emerging force in chess education after becoming the only African country to receive a Kick Starter Award at the 2026 FIDE Year of Chess in Education Awards.

The award was presented to Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) president Todd Mapingire at the FIDE Chess in Education Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, by FIDE deputy president Viswanathan Anand and FIDE Management Board chairperson Dana Reizniece Ozola.

Only eight Kick Starter Awards were presented globally, highlighting the international recognition of Zimbabwe’s efforts to expand chess within the country’s education system.

The recognition comes as the ZCF and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education intensify efforts to make chess more accessible to learners across the country. Chess has been incorporated into Zimbabwe’s national curriculum framework, while teacher-training initiatives are being rolled out in collaboration with the FIDE Chess in Education Commission.

The programmes are intended to equip teachers with the skills to introduce and develop chess in schools, with training initiatives reaching educators across all 10 provinces.

Beyond the classroom, grassroots programmes such as Chess Kumusha have sought to take the game into rural and underserved communities. Sengwa Primary School is among institutions that have emerged from these initiatives and progressed from community-level participation to competing at continental level.

The ZCF and the Ministry are also working towards a memorandum of understanding that would formalise their partnership and provide a framework for expanding school chess nationwide.

Under the proposed arrangement, the federation would provide technical expertise, training and chess development support, while the Ministry would provide the institutional structures and human resources needed to facilitate the programme in schools.

The initiative has attracted growing attention from FIDE officials. Jerry Nash, chairman of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission, previously visited Zimbabwe and engaged with the federation and the Ministry on the country's school-chess programmes.

FIDE management board chairperson Reizniece Ozola also visited Zimbabwe in March, where she held meetings with Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo and Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Emily Jesaya.

With more than 15,000 schools across Zimbabwe, the proposed partnership could provide a significantly wider platform for introducing chess to young people and identifying players with potential for further development.

Mapingire welcomed the recognition, saying the award provided encouragement to the federation as it continues to develop chess across Zimbabwe.

“We are extremely excited and humbled to receive this recognition from FIDE. The Kick-starter Award gives us confidence that we are on the right path in fulfilling our mandate to develop and grow chess in Zimbabwe,” he said.

“This award is not only recognition of the Zimbabwe Chess Federation, but also recognition of the work being done by our partners, particularly the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, teachers, schools, parents, coaches and the wider chess community.”

Mapingire said the progress towards a formal partnership with the Ministry was particularly encouraging.

“We are particularly encouraged by the progress towards finalising the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry. This partnership can significantly strengthen school chess by creating a coordinated framework for training teachers, introducing chess to more schools and supporting the development of young players,” he said.

“With the reach of the education system, we believe this can create a much wider talent pool for Zimbabwe and provide a stronger pathway for future national team players.”

ZCF patron Mucha Mkanganwi also welcomed the international recognition, saying it reflected the work being done to take chess into communities and schools.

“I am very happy with the work being done by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation and with the progress that is being made in taking chess to communities and schools across the country,” Mkanganwi said.

“This recognition by FIDE reflects the commitment of the Federation and its partners to promoting and developing chess in Zimbabwe. It is particularly encouraging to see chess reaching young people in communities that have traditionally had limited access to the sport.”

Mkanganwi said the award should provide further impetus for the development of chess among young people.

“The Kick starter Award should inspire us to continue supporting the development of chess, particularly in schools, where we can identify and nurture talent from an early age,” he said.

“We congratulate the Zimbabwe Chess Federation and everyone who has contributed to this achievement. It is an important milestone, but also an encouragement to do even more.”