The Taiwan Youth Chess Association (TYCA) has officially confirmed its continued participation in Stage 10 of the FIDE Infinite Chess Project, reaffirming its commitment to bringing the benefits of chess to children across Taiwan.
TYCA’s involvement in the Infinite Chess Project goes beyond direct implementation. Over the past several years, the association has worked to build a sustainable local model, training more than 20 Infinite Chess teachers and volunteers. This initiative ensures that the program can continue to grow and serve the community beyond direct FIDE funding.
This experience has also spurred innovation. TYCA recently developed Emo Chess, a digital learning application designed to support children’s emotional recognition, communication, and social interaction through chess-based activities. Emo Chess is now available on the Apple App Store, representing a significant step in combining chess with social-emotional learning and technology.
Furthermore, TYCA once again participated in Taiwan’s Ministry of Education Kindergarten-to-Primary School Transition Program this summer. By bringing the Infinite Chess approach into a government-supported educational and early-intervention setting, TYCA aims to connect the methodology with Taiwan’s broader educational and special-education support systems.
Looking ahead, TYCA is excited to announce a new research collaboration for 2026–2027. The association will participate in a project led by Professor Cheng-Chen Pan, supported by Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
As part of this project, TYCA will use chess as an educational intervention for approximately 30–40 high school students with autism. Over a structured 12-week course, the program will explore how chess-based learning may contribute to students’ learning, cognitive development, problem-solving skills, and overall development. The research team will conduct systematic assessments and analysis.
“This represents an exciting opportunity to bring the practical experience we have accumulated through the Infinite Chess Project into a more structured academic research setting,” said Angie Chao, President of TYCA. “We hope that our experience in Taiwan can contribute not only to our local community but also to the continued development of the Infinite Chess Project internationally.”
TYCA has committed to sharing any research findings, educational materials, or reports with the FIDE Infinite Chess team. The association will also continue to share photos and videos from the Stage 10 sessions as the program progresses.
