Gens Una Sumus — We Are One Family

Every year on 20 July, chess players around the world celebrate International Chess Day. The date marks the founding of FIDE in Paris on 20 July 1924. The celebration began in 1966, and in 2019 the United Nations officially proclaimed 20 July as World Chess Day. United Nations

FIDE’s motto, Gens Una Sumus, is Latin for “We are one family.” FIDE describes it as the motto under which the organisation was founded, although its earliest known appearance in official FIDE print dates to 1952. FIDE, historical background

For Gauteng Chess, these words capture what our game is truly about. Whatever our age, rating, club, region or background, we are united by the same board and a shared love of chess. We compete fiercely, but we also learn from one another, support one another and grow together.

That sense of belonging reaches far beyond Gauteng. On International Chess Day in 2024, more than 7.28 million gameswere played worldwide in just 24 hours—a Guinness World Record and a remarkable demonstration of one global chess family. FIDE

This International Chess Day, we proudly celebrate every player who forms part of our chess family.

Gens Una Sumus — We are one family.