Director-General's remarks at the Chess tournament on the occasion of World Chess Day

Chess tournament on the occasion of World Chess Day
Wednesday, 8 July 2026 at 2.00 p.m.
Hall XIV, Palais des Nations
 

Ambassador Tolmajian (Permanent Representative of Armenia),
Dear Mr. Vögtlin, (President of the Swiss Chess Federation),
Excellencies,  
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to join you today for the second Geneva Diplomatic Chess Tournament, organized to celebrate World Chess Day.

I would like to thank the Permanent Mission of Armenia for organizing this event once again here at the Palais des Nations. I also extend a special welcome to the President of the International Chess Federation, Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich, and to Grandmaster Levon Aronian, whose presence today reflects the enduring importance of chess as a sport, an educational tool and a cultural tradition.

As the UN Secretary-General António Guterres has observed, on this day “we celebrate the power of chess to foster dialogue, respect and understanding.” For centuries, chess has brought people together across cultures, borders, and generations, creating opportunities for people to connect through a common language of discipline, integrity and respect.

Every game of chess begins with two players sitting in front of each other. Before the first move is made, they have already agreed on something fundamental: that differences will be addressed not through confrontation, but through reason, rules and fair play. These same principles are essential to diplomacy and to the work we carry out here at the United Nations.

Within that framework, every move matters. Success depends not only on skill and preparation, but also on patience, sound judgement and the ability to understand one's counterpart. These qualities — attentive listening, openness and thoughtful decision-making — are equally indispensable to effective multilateral cooperation.

Today's tournament brings together members of Geneva's diplomatic community in a spirit of friendly competition. While the matches will undoubtedly be spirited, they also reflect the values that underpin multilateral cooperation: dialogue, mutual respect and the willingness to engage constructively, even where views may differ.

It is particularly meaningful that this initiative is led by Armenia, whose contribution to the international chess community is widely recognized.  It was at Armenia's initiative that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2019 proclaiming 20 July as World Chess Day.

I wish all players every success in today's tournament, and I hope that this second edition of the Geneva Diplomatic Chess Tournament will further strengthen the ties that unite our international community.

Thank you.