PRESS RELEASE. Structure and governance of Chess-Tennis: The WCTA consolidates the sport’s official framework and clarifies the awarding of world titles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. In response to the growing international enthusiasm for chess tennis, the Swiss-based World Chess Tennis Association (WCTA) is reaffirming its role as the governing body. In consultation with European stakeholders and federations, the WCTA is standardising the organisation of competitions to safeguard the integrity of official titles.

GOVERNANCEDRAMATOURNAMENTHISTORY

8/4/20262 min read

A rapidly growing sport that demands clarity

Combining the tactical precision of chess with the physical demands of tennis, Chess-Tennis is expanding rapidly across the globe. This newfound popularity has led to a proliferation of local initiatives and independent tournaments.

To ensure the sport remains transparent to athletes, sponsors and the media, the World Chess Tennis Association (WCTA) is actively pursuing a harmonisation campaign. The aim is to ensure that the terms ‘World Championship’ and ‘World Title’ are used exclusively for events that meet unified regulatory, ethical and sporting standards.

As part of this regulatory mission, the WCTA has recently held constructive discussions with private organisers in Germany and Austria, as well as with key national bodies such as the Austrian Chess Federation (Österreichischer Schachbund – ÖSB).

These efforts have borne fruit:

Unification of titles: organisers of independent European tournaments (notably the Chess Sports Association – CSA) have officially ceased the unauthorised use of the terms ‘Weltmeisterschaft’ and ‘Championnat du Monde’ for their unofficial events, thereby aligning themselves with the trademarks registered and protected by the WCTA (Swiss IPI trademarks Nos. 790075 and 790076).
Information update: national federations have updated their editorial materials to reflect the exact nature of the competitions and to avoid any confusion amongst the public.

“Our aim is not to dampen enthusiasm for Chess-Tennis, but to provide this sport with the rigorous framework it deserves,” said Amaury Aubrée Dauchez, President of the WCTA. “A World Champion title must have indisputable and universal value. The cooperation shown by European stakeholders demonstrates that the sporting world understands the need for clear governance to ensure the long-term future of our discipline.”

A call for international collaboration

Building on these developments, the WCTA reaffirms its commitment to working hand in hand with national tennis and chess federations, as well as with tournament organisers around the world. The WCTA offers a certification and affiliation system enabling regional events to join the official circuit and contribute to the world rankings.

About the World Chess Tennis Association (WCTA)

The World Chess Tennis Association (WCTA) is the international governing body for Chess-Tennis. Established as an association under Swiss law (Art. 60 et seq. ZGB) and based in Sierre (Valais), the WCTA sets the official rules of the sport, manages the international rankings and awards the organisation of continental and world championships.

Motto: Mens Acris In Corpore Sano.

Official website: https://chesstennis.org

Press & Media Relations: World Chess Tennis Association (WCTA)

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