BSV WNB – Wiener Schachrunde

♟️ About BSV WNB – Wiener Schachrunde

BSV WNB – Wiener Schachrunde is the chess group of the Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband Wien, Niederösterreich und Burgenland, a nonprofit self-help organization based at the Louis Braille House in Vienna. BSV WNB represents and supports blind and visually impaired people across Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland. Its services include social counselling, orientation and mobility training, practical daily-living instruction, assistive technology, professional support, educational courses, community activities, and accessible leisure programs. Chess forms an important part of this inclusive recreational program. The organization provides accessible premises, adapted equipment, technical resources, and practical support for chess activities at the Louis Braille House.

🏆 Wiener Schachrunde and Inclusive Chess

The Wiener Schachrunde welcomes blind, visually impaired, and sighted chess players. Its regular club evenings take place on Thursdays at the Louis Braille House. Participants range from recreational players to experienced tournament competitors and Grandmasters. Basic knowledge of chess is helpful, while the group also supports players who want to develop their skills through regular practice and social competition. Adapted chessboards allow blind players to feel the position of every piece. In addition, accessible or speaking chess clocks help players participate independently. The group promotes equal participation, mutual understanding, concentration, friendship, and sporting competition. Mahendra Galani and Josef Maisser support the group’s activities and communication with players.

🌍 Inclusion Chess Open and Tournament Activities

BSV WNB and its Wiener Schachrunde organize the annual Inclusion Chess Open at the Louis Braille House in Vienna. The tournament brings blind, visually impaired, and sighted players together in the same FIDE-rated classical competition. It combines professional tournament standards with an accessible playing environment and practical assistance for participants who require it. The organizers coordinate the playing venue, accessible equipment, participant services, registration support, technical facilities, refreshments, and cooperation with the arbitral team. The 4th Inclusion Chess Open 2026 continues this program with seven rounds of classical chess and both FIDE and Austrian national rating. Through the tournament, BSV WNB demonstrates how inclusive organization can remove barriers without separating players into different competitive environments. The event also strengthens cooperation between disability organizations, chess professionals, volunteers, sponsors, and the wider Austrian chess community.