Esports Wales attended the Welsh Chess Union Championship in Cardiff, marking another step forward in the growing collaboration between traditional mind sports and the esports sector in Wales.
The visit forms part of Esports Wales’ ongoing work with the Welsh Chess Union, exploring shared opportunities across competition, education, and community engagement. Chess and esports share many core skills, including strategic thinking, problem‑solving, concentration, and decision‑making under pressure, making collaboration between the two natural and increasingly relevant.
Building Bridges Between Chess and Esports
Esports Wales has been working alongside the Welsh Chess Union to support the development of chess within modern competitive formats, including its inclusion within wider esports‑style structures such as leagues, school competitions, and digital platforms.
By attending the Championship in Cardiff, Esports Wales was able to engage directly with players, organisers, and stakeholders, strengthening relationships and identifying opportunities to align chess with esports pathways across Wales.
John Jackson, CEO of Esports Wales, said:
“Chess and esports share a huge amount in common. Both reward strategic thinking, preparation, and mental resilience. Attending the Welsh Chess Union Championship was a great opportunity to continue building a relationship that supports players, promotes competitive thinking, and helps modernise how mind sports are delivered and experienced in Wales.”
A Shared Vision for Competitive Mind Sports
The collaboration reflects a wider ambition to bring together traditional and digital competitive disciplines, particularly within schools, colleges, and community settings. Chess already features within Esports Wales‑supported education competitions, sitting alongside other titles as part of a broader, inclusive approach to competitive gaming and mind sports in Wales.
Esports Wales and the Welsh Chess Union will continue discussions around future initiatives, with a focus on growing participation, visibility, and pathways for players of all ages.
About Esports Wales
Founded in 2018, Esports Wales is the national governing body for esports in Wales. The organisation supports players, clubs, schools, and communities from grassroots participation through to elite competition, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, education, and good governance.