by InTrieste
In a cavernous warehouse on Trieste’s old port, where the Adriatic breeze filters through the wide windows of Magazzino 26, silence will soon give way to the click of chess clocks and the hush of concentration. From August 30 to September 5, the city will host the 27th edition of the International Chess Festival “Città di Trieste,” an event that has grown into one of Italy’s most prominent tournaments.
This year’s edition is breaking records: more than 250 players have registered, a 50 percent increase from 2024. That makes it not only one of the largest festivals in Italy but also among the strongest, with nine Grandmasters, two female Grandmasters, 20 International Masters and dozens of other titled players signed up for the main event.
For chess fans, Trieste has pedigree. Past editions welcomed stars like India’s Gukesh D — now the reigning world champion — and Italian-American Fabiano Caruana, a former challenger for the world crown. The festival’s reputation, say organizers, lies in both the quality of the competition and the setting: a city perched at the crossroads of Central Europe and the Mediterranean.
Competitors this year will come from 40 countries, spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas — from Argentina to Malaysia, from the United States to Iran. Roughly half of the players are Italian, underscoring the event’s international appeal.
The festival’s centerpiece, the nine-round Master Tournament, has already attracted around 130 players, who will spend a week locked in battle across the boards. Alongside it, there will be a “B” tournament, dedicated to Libero and Zora Polojaz, and a “C” section for amateurs and emerging players. A giant outdoor chessboard will also be installed, inviting the public to join in the spirit of the game.
The program extends beyond the main competition. On September 3, an evening blitz tournament will allow even casual players to test their speed against international competition, while from September 5–7 a weekend event will bring in another wave of participants.
Notably, this year’s lineup includes a significant contingent of female players, many with international titles, and a large number of juniors, highlighting the festival’s broad appeal. Accessibility is also a priority: special accommodations will be in place for visually impaired players and those with reduced mobility.
Despite the dominance of online chess in recent years, the Trieste festival proves that the allure of face-to-face play remains strong. Matches from the top 20 boards will be broadcast live on major chess platforms, ensuring that enthusiasts around the world can follow the action in real time.
The influx of more than 200 players and their families is also a boon for the local economy, even if, as organizers admit, Trieste’s limited hotel availability has dissuaded some from making the trip. Still, the event is a fixture of the city’s cultural calendar, supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Municipality of Trieste, and the Polojaz Foundation.
The festival is organized by the Società Scacchistica Triestina 1904, one of Italy’s oldest chess clubs, which works year-round to promote the game, particularly in schools.
For a week in late summer, then, Magazzino 26 will be less a relic of Trieste’s maritime past than a stage for intellectual drama — where opening gambits, middle-game strategies and endgame finesse will determine who takes home the title in one of Italy’s most vibrant chess gatherings.
