4 cities in two continents performed over-the-board chess towards each other on Worldwide Chess Day (July 20). The occasion, Portals x Chess.com, was a celebration of chess that linked Dublin, Eire; Lublin, Poland; Philadelphia, U.S.A.; and Vilnius, Lithuania.
Enjoying chess by portals on #InternationalChessDay 😍 #PortalsChess pic.twitter.com/lLTDNJPzZd
— Chess.com (@chesscom) July 20, 2025
Titled gamers and creators from the 4 cities performed each other with out leaving their nations. As a substitute, they battled on ChessUp boards whereas seeing one another in real-time by Portal sculptures, which you’ll be able to see within the images under. It was the primary time that Portal sculptures have been used for gaming.
These sculptures act as “digital home windows,” permitting contributors to work together in actual time.
The digital chessboards allowed gamers separated by 1000’s of miles to interact with each other immediately. This manner, folks broke down geographic obstacles and celebrated the love of chess collectively.
The event was a workforce double round-robin between 4 groups, with a time management of 5+5. The next groups and gamers participated.
Portals x Chesscom Members
| Philadelphia | Dublin | Lublin | Vilnius |
| IM Igor Khmelnitsky | Antonina Gora | IM Dawid Czerw | Agne Semonaviciute |
| Angelo Dellomargio | Jacob Barron | IM/WGM Iweta Rajlich | Migle Semonaviciute |
| Joshua Anderson, Tri-Bridges Chess Membership | (Trinity Faculty Membership) | IM Oliwia Kiolbasa | Arvydas’s Membership |
| Jeffrey Kunnel | |||
| Martin Collette, Phillasap.org |
Portals are about celebrating human connectivity and eradicating bodily obstacles in order that completely different folks from throughout the globe can work together and discover widespread floor. Gamers of all ages and chess ranges attended.
Native chess followers had been invited to attend in individual, watch the video games, and play. The non-profit group PhillyASAP invited chess followers in Philadelphia. Their mission assertion is “To develop top quality after college actions and sources to empower youth and strengthen communities in Philadelphia.”
Chess.com’s Supervisor of Neighborhood Moderation Richard Casserly attended the occasion in Dublin. He known as the occasion “nothing wanting electrical” and stated, “It was a strong reminder that chess speaks a common language, one which transcends age, tradition, and background. Kids challenged adults, newcomers partnered with seasoned veterans, and individuals who would possibly by no means have crossed paths discovered widespread floor over the 64 squares.”
It was a strong reminder that chess speaks a common language, one which transcends age, tradition, and background.
—Richard Casserly, Supervisor of Neighborhood Moderation
He spoke to a number of folks on web site. Many shared that the turnout was a lot larger than they anticipated; there have been about 50 to 60 attendees, and each board was used for the whole time. One individual instructed him, “It is simply fantastic to see folks from all completely different walks of life right here, in a respectful, peaceable method, all talking the one language of chess and taking part in collectively. The ambiance is so warming.”
Antonina Gora (ToshQueen), a participant on the Dublin workforce, additionally made a promotional video you could try right here.
Chess.com’s IM Dawid Czerw, who’s the Polish content material supervisor, attended the occasion in Lublin. He rated the expertise a ten/10 and stated there have been a whole lot of spectators. Throughout spherical three, when a storm hit, “followers helped us to maintain the tent on the bottom as a robust wind nearly took it away.”
He added, “I strongly imagine that event, OTB [over-the-board] video games are the height of chess enjoyable. However taking part in on a ChessUp board was one thing within the center between OTB video games and on-line video games. It was particularly humorous as we had been seeing our opponents reside within the Portal in entrance of us!”
… taking part in on a ChessUp board was one thing within the center between OTB video games and on-line video games.
—Dawid Czerw, Chess.com Polish Content material Supervisor
The occasion showcased common streamers, titled gamers, and native chess golf equipment and organizations.
We additionally had an internet area for everybody who wished to participate within the motion however couldn’t go in-person to the collaborating cities. You may see the full outcomes right here, and the prizes went to:
Prizes for On-line Enviornment
| Place | Username | Prize |
| 1 | BeastofRapid | One-year Diamond membership |
| 2 | mike-bear | Six-month Diamond membership |
| 3 | Das_Chess5437 | Three-month Diamond membership |
ChessUp donated boards to volunteers on web site.
The best way to Evaluation
Portal x Chess.com was an in-person occasion to have fun Worldwide Chess Day in 2025. Gamers in 4 completely different cities throughout two continents performed over-the-board chess towards one another utilizing sensible ChessUp 2 boards and Portal sculptures.
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