by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interview: Massimo Varini — President of the Accademia di Scacchi Trieste; Pierpaolo Roberti — Regional Councillor of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The 12th Lignano Chess International Festival begins Friday at the Hotel Falcone, bringing together players from across Italy and neighboring countries for three days of competition.
Organized by the Accademia di Scacchi Trieste, the tournament runs through Sunday, Oct. 25, with participants expected from Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and elsewhere in Italy.
The festival features two sections based on player ratings: a master tournament for competitors with an Elo rating above 1,800 and an expert tournament for those below that threshold. Both will consist of five rounds played under the Swiss system, with a time control of 90 minutes per player plus a 30-second increment per move.
Registration is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday, followed by the first round at 6 p.m. The second and third rounds will take place Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively. The final two rounds are scheduled for Sunday at the same times, followed by an awards ceremony.
Late registration will be available at the venue, organizers said.
The festival offers a total prize fund of €2,000, with cash prizes for the top four finishers in each section and special awards for women, players under 16 and those over 65.
Italian participants must hold a valid 2026 membership with the national chess federation, with membership available at the venue. Foreign players must have a FIDE identification number.
The event will use electronic DGT chessboards, allowing selected games to be broadcast live. Free coffee breaks and discounted accommodation and meals will also be available to players and accompanying visitors.
Massimo Varini, president of the Accademia di Scacchi Trieste, said the division into two sections was intended to provide a balanced competition for both experienced players and amateurs.
The festival is supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government, PromoTurismo FVG, the municipality of Lignano Sabbiadoro, the International Chess Federation, the Italian Chess Federation and the regional committee of the Italian National Olympic Committee.
