The Austrian Chess Federation (German: Österreichischer Schachbund - ÖSB) is the official governing body for chess in Austria. Headquartered in Graz, the federation plays a key role in promoting chess throughout the country, organizing national tournaments, supporting local clubs, and representing Austria in international chess competitions.
With a strong community of over 15,000 active members, the federation also publishes Schach Aktiv, a popular chess magazine that has been in circulation since 1981. The Austrian Chess Championship is one of its major annual events, drawing top talent from across the nation.
History
Founded in 1920 under the leadership of Josef Krejcik, the federation was temporarily dissolved following Austria’s annexation by Nazi Germany. It was re-established in 1946 with Josef Hanacik as president. In 1952, Franz Cejka took over the presidency, followed in 1971 by Kurt Jungwirth, a co-founder and longtime president of the European Chess Union. Jungwirth led the ÖSB for several decades until 2017, when he was succeeded by Christian Hursky, a well-known Austrian politician and member of the Vienna Landtag.