What is unique about chess?

Chess is a sport that is played on EQUAL  TERMS irrespective of whether the players are able bodied or not. This is something that cannot be said of field sports. Age is not a barrier to playing chess, neither is gender nor disability.

Three teams representing disabled groups participate in the FIDE Olympiads.  These are the IPCA (Physically Handicapped), the  ICSC (Deaf ) and the IBCA, the body responsible for chess for the blind and visually impaired. All three organisations have competed honourably in the FIDE Olympiads.

It is of great importance that  National Federations  and  Continental organisations do everything within their power to promote chess amongst the disabled. We  are “one family“ as the motto of FIDE says and we need officials that will uphold that motto.

Nowadays a lot of tournaments are run using time controls that have time increments. This type of time control requires the use of a digital chess clock. This type of clock is unsuitable for chess players who are blind.

The solution is a talking chess clock with a socket for an ear piece. This would enable the blind or visually impaired player to use the clock without distracting the opponent or those sitting nearby.

For this to happen, we need federations and continental organisations to help with the development of such a clock and also to put pressure on FIDE to play its part in this important project.

Stephen Hilton

Secretary General

International Braille Chess Association  (IBCA)