Competition is underway as the best student chess and bridge players work to make their way to the podiums.
The Liaocheng 2026 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports opened on the weekend with a captivating opening ceremony. The ceremony featured a wonderful performance that fully incorporated elements of the “Two Rivers” culture, displaying the vitality of the Water City of Liaocheng.
Li Changping, Secretary of the CPC Liaocheng Municipal Party Committee, officially opened the event marking the first time that the FISU Championship Mind Sports is being held in China.
about the host
Liaocheng, located in Shandong Province, has earned the nickname “Venice of Northern China” with Dongchang lake a central feature to the city’s beauty.
This host city of 5.9 million residents is building itself as an emerging centre for mind sports. It boasts over 400,000 mind sports enthusiasts along with more than 400 schools that offer chess programs helping mind sports take root in the community.
The venue
More than 200 athletes from 21 countries are competing in bridge and chess from 11 to 16 October. The host venue is the Arcadia International Hot Spring Hotel in Liaocheng, with the Dongchang Hall hosting bridge competition and the Fenghuang (Phoenix) Hall welcoming chess.
The hot spring facilities, greenery, and tranquil waterscapes provide a calming and focused environment for all the competing athletes.
the participants
The 21 countries with athletes competing at the FISU Championship Mind Sports are:
- China
- Chinese Taipei
- Czechia
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong, China
- Hungary
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- South Africa
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Switzerland
- Slovakia
- Thailand
- Uganda
how to follow
Throughout Liaocheng 2026 FISU World University Championship Mind Sports competition from 11 to 16 October, all will be streamed live and available by clicking here.
Click here to access photos and highlights and here to get all the results!
More event information is available on the event’s official website and on its social media outlets, Instagram and Facebook.
And also on FISU’s social media outlets, Instagram and Facebook.
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