Alicante has emerged as a national reference for chess in recent years. The province hosts an increasing number of tournaments and events, largely promoted by Promochess. Last year, the organization ran a large tour to popularize the sport among hundreds of boys and girls. Today, events are spread out more, but Alicante still sits at the center of a thriving chess training ecosystem.
“Chess events have doubled in a very short time, from tournaments to talks and exhibitions,” says Marcos García, the sports director of Promochess. This professional player recently took part in a multi-match against 25 opponents in Dolores, organized by the Ministry of Sports, underscoring the rapid growth of the game across the province.
Chess and education
There are schools that feature chess as a subject, including San Alberto Magno in Monforte and Lluís Vives in Elche. Classes run during school hours, with some schools offering extracurricular sessions. Promochess also provides talks at schools and institutes, expanding reach and engagement.
Guardamar del Segura, world chess center
VL Deltell
Christmas Tournament
One town stands out for hosting a major international event in September: Guardamar del Segura. Looking ahead, Guardamar is set to be the focus of the year’s chess activities. On Sunday, December 17, at 9:30 a.m., Stage IV will take place at the Palau Sant Jaume, with around one hundred players expected. The Christmas Tournament will begin. In this municipality of La Vega Baja, the local association collaborates with Promochess every year to organize chess conferences and promote the sport in three schools and institutes. This year more than 1000 students received talks and lectures, according to Promochess leadership.
The Christmas tournament charges a registration fee of 10 euros and offers trophies and prizes for absolute category champions (12 years old and up), U12, U8, local champions and veterans. The competition consists of six rounds (10+2) and is organized by Promochess.
The provincial league, or circuit, supported board sports between 2022 and 2023 and contributed greatly to growth in the region. While evaluating the schedule for this year, organizers considered reducing activity but opted for new formats instead. “Interest has doubled. We receive twice as many inquiries from people wanting chess in their schools or tournaments in their municipalities. We run an intercenter competition with participation from 10 institutes, and we plan to repeat it in 2024,” notes Promochess leadership.
boom
“The landscape has shifted dramatically since I began teaching chess in schools in 2008. Administrators once debated whether these activities should fit into school hours. Now they’re often the ones reaching out to request lessons because the research confirms the positive impact of chess on student learning,” García observes.
Chess excitement continues to expand both within the state and globally. The sport shines in media coverage with high-profile figures and creators engaging with the game. The rise of YouTubers and series featuring chess, along with the fact that roughly a dozen tournaments occur in Alicante annually, shows strong spectator and community support for the game.