About the Supporting Elite Chess Fund 2026 to 2029

About the fund

The Supporting Elite Chess Fund is a £750,000 investment designed to support the development of elite chess in England from April 2026 to March 2029.

This funding aims to support the English Chess Federation, the national governing body for chess in England, to maintain and accelerate England’s international chess ranking through improving performance, increasing opportunities and improving inclusivity.

Objectives

The three core objectives are to:

• improve performance: ensuring English players receive more training, rank more highly, and perform better at international tournaments, while providing tailored support for chess prodigies.
• increase opportunities: creating more opportunities for English players to play internationally to enhance their professional careers and world rankings.
• improve inclusivity: creating and sustaining a pipeline of new female talent and ensuring access to international chess is available for under-represented groups.