Copyright euroweeklynews
A total of 416 chess players from 31 countries around the world have been competing since Saturday October 25 in the Benidorm Chess Open 2025, an international tournament officially presented at the Meliá Hotel. Organised by the Caballo Blanco Chess Club in collaboration with the Chess Federation of the Valencian Community, the event champions chess as an inclusive sport, with 25 blind players competing against sighted opponents. Present at the launch were Councillor for Sports Javier Jordá, regional MP José Ramón González de Zárate, Ana Pastor, First Vice President of the Valencian Chess Federation, Alberto Varela, Director of the Meliá Benidorm Hotel, Alfonso Vilches, Tournament Director, and Fernando Brotons, CEO of Tour-Sports Promociones Deportivas. The competition will run until Sunday November 2, featuring two categories — Open A SUPRA 1800 and Open B SUB 2000 — and will be valid for FIDE ELO ratings under international chess regulations. A total of €25,510 in prizes will be awarded. This fifth edition introduces three major innovations in the Open A category: around 40 matches will be broadcast online using electronic boards, allowing games to be followed on leading global chess platforms. In an inclusive effort, twenty of the twenty-five blind competitors are Spanish, while five have travelled from Poland’s Federation of Blind and Visually Impaired Chess Players — a milestone, as the Polish delegation typically only participates in tournaments exclusively for blind players. “We want this tournament to remain a benchmark in organisational quality and to offer chess lovers and their companions a truly outstanding experience in Spain, thanks to the blend of competition, learning and leisure in an unbeatable setting,” said Tournament Director Alfonso Vilches. For her part, Ana Pastor highlighted “the commitment to inclusion, one of the most beautiful aspects of this sport”, stressing that both the organisers and the federation work hard to ensure that “each participant enjoys a first-class experience”. Players from 31 countries are taking part. “We launched this tournament five editions ago, back when the world was still under Covid-19 restrictions, and we’ve managed to grow and consolidate it into a fixture on the international chess calendar,” noted Fernando Brotons. “It’s an event rooted in sporting excellence, experience, and sports tourism.” He added that the players and their companions are expected to generate around 3,500 overnight stays in Benidorm. Councillor Javier Jordá closed the presentation by celebrating the tournament’s continued success, stating that it “keeps growing in participation, visibility and, above all, inclusion.”
