Italian
The traditional chess festival suspended the game yesterday for the funeral of Pope Francis
Lignano Sabbiadoro (UD) – It opened in the afternoon of Friday, April 25, with the first move by Roberto Cauzzo, owner of the Hotel Centrale in Lignano Sabbiadoro (UD) where it will continue until today, Sunday, April 27.
The 10th International Chess Festival “Lignano Sabbiadoro”, promoted and organized by the Trieste Chess Academy, is one of the most anticipated events for enthusiasts of this mental discipline par excellence.
Passion for …chess!
Having reached the milestone of its tenth edition, the Festival has become a reference point for Italian and international chess players, blending competition and conviviality in an inclusive and stimulating environment.
This year we celebrate ten years of passion, talent, and growth, with an event that confirms its high level and takes place in the refined setting of the Hotel Centrale, consolidating the winning combination of sport, strategy, and the beauty of the Adriatic Sea.
The tournament is open to everyone, as it is specifically divided into brackets based on the level of play, and sees the participation of chess players from not only all over Italy but also from Austria and Slovenia, confirming its international profile. The total prize pool is 1,600 euros.
The event is sponsored by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Municipality of Lignano Sabbiadoro, the FIDE (International Chess Federation), the Italian Chess Federation, and the Regional CONI of FVG.
In 2025, thanks to the collaboration with idSports, ten matches per round will be broadcast live, providing visibility and engagement to remote audiences as well.
“Hosted in the charming setting of Lignano Sabbiadoro – stated the President of the Chess Academy of Trieste, Massimo Varini – our Festival is designed to offer quality experiences, both for professionals and amateurs; precisely to promote this aspect, the competitions are divided into brackets to ensure balance among participants, with a total of five rounds of play”.
Saturday of mourning
The playing schedule has been reduced in order to complete the Tournament by playing matches only on Fridays and Sundays, with a break on Saturday, April 26, for the national mourning declared by the Council of Ministers following the passing of Pope Francis.
Participation is allowed to all FSI registered players for 2025 and to all foreigners in possession of FIN (FIDE Identity Number). The categories and participation modalities are: Tournament A – Master: open to Italian and foreign players with FIDE ID and at least 1900 Elo points. Tournament B – Expert: reserved for players with a FIDE rating not exceeding 2000 Elo.
The pairing system is the Swiss system, with 5 rounds of play and tiebreaks according to the following order: total Buchholz, Buchholz cut 1, A.R.O.
In agreement with the Federation, the time control has been reduced to 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.
Tournament arbiter: Giovanni Marchesich (FIDE Arbiter)
