Festive chess tournament in Guardamar draws over 100 players.
Photo Credit: Guardamar del Segura Town Hall / Facebook
A cheerful, Christmas chess match: on Sunday, December 14, 2025, the Costa Blanca municipality of Guardamar del Segura was host to the VI Christmas Open Chess Tournament at the Palau Sant Jaume on Avenida de Europa, a grand event that brought together the region’s most passionate chess geniuses and saw wonderful and nail-biting matches play out.
Guardamar’s successful chess match, in time for the holiday festivities
Organised by the Club Ajedrez Dama de Guardamar, in collaboration with Promochess and the local Guardamar del Segura Town Council, the event saw more than 100 chess players show up to show off their playing prowess, with no age or chess rating limits, ensuring an interesting and fun competition.
Beginning at 9:00am, the tournament worked under a Swiss system with 6 rounds and various categories, including an open category, Under 8, 12, and 14 categories, a local player category, and a veteran category. When the players worked up an appetite, lunch and drinks were included during the day, along with traditional Christmas sweets to amp up the festive and warm atmosphere. In addition, there was a special prize draw and gifts were distributed, making sure everyone had a chance to walk away with something. Prizes included trophies, Christmas hampers, gifts and hotel stays. All in all, the event was a grand success for the Christmas chess lovers of Guardamar del Segura.
Guardamar del Segura a host for many international chess tournaments
Guardamar del Segura is not a stranger to large and successful chess tournaments; the municipality has hosted an International Chess Festival with several tournaments, attracting players from different countries, including slow games and rapid events, as part of its Valencia Capital of Culture celebrations.
Additionally, earlier this year in March, Guardamar del Segura hosted the VI Open Internacional, in memorial of José Manuel Hernández Ortiz, held at the Palau Sant Jaume; and the IX Spanish School Chess Championship in April, a prestigious event for young chess prodigies from around Spain.
A hobby taking Spain by storm
Top Spanish players like Daniil Yuffa, who won the Spanish Chess Championship, show the strength and increasing popularity of competitive chess talent in the country. More and more, the active chess scene in Guardamar del Segura is a signifier of a growing, active hobby that mixes international open events, local festivals, school championships, and community-driven tournaments. Spain also has a rich history of notable tournaments and international competitions, helping position it as a vibrant hub for chess, no matter the level.
Read more news from Costa Blanca South here.