ICCD & International Chess

The International Committee of Deaf Chess (ICCD) conducts all its sporting activities in full alignment with the international chess system, applying the Laws of Chess and technical regulations of the FIDE (International Chess Federation). This alignment ensures technical rigor, sporting fairness, and international recognition of chess competitions for Deaf players.

At the same time, Deaf chess is an integral part of the international Deaf sports movement, structured through the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). Founded in 1924 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as an International Federation with Olympic standing, the ICSD is responsible for organizing the Deaflympics, the second oldest international multi-sport event in the world after the Olympic Games.

Within the ICSD sports programme, chess is officially recognized as a sport, particularly within the framework of the Winter Deaflympics, alongside other winter disciplines. In this way, Deaf chess is fully integrated both into the international chess system and into the global multi-sport structure for Deaf athletes.

This institutional relationship is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ICCD and the ICSD, which regulates cooperation and coordination in matters related to chess. Under this agreement, Phillip Gardner, President of the ICCD, serves as Technical Director for Chess within the ICSD structure, ensuring the correct application of regulations, technical development of the discipline, and its integration into the Deaflympics programme.

Through this dual alignment — with FIDE in the field of chess and with ICSD in the framework of international Deaf sport — the ICCD acts as the global reference body for Deaf chess, ensuring institutional recognition, historical continuity, and full integration within international sport.