Association Chess Club Straža

♟️ About Šahovski klub Straža

Šahovski klub Straža is an active chess club based in Hum na Sutli, Krapina-Zagorje County, Croatia. Founded in 2000, the club promotes competitive and recreational chess through league participation, tournaments, youth training, and regular club activities. Its official website documents more than 25 years of continuous activity in the local and regional chess community. The club competes in the Croatian team championship system and currently plays in the IV League Center D. In addition to league matches, Straža organizes monthly club tournaments and participates in rapid, blitz, county, youth, and friendly competitions. Its long-running relationships with chess clubs in neighboring Slovenia also add a cross-border dimension to its activities. Josip Krklec has served as President since 2013 and remains the club’s principal organizer and public contact in 2026. He is also Tournament Director of the club’s flagship Hum Open, which has developed into the International Open Championship of Krapina-Zagorje County.

📜 History and Development

Straža began in 2000 when a group of recreational players in Hum na Sutli decided to establish a regular chess organization. The club quickly became competitive within Krapina-Zagorje County. Early achievements included strong results in the county cup and victory in the Sutla League, followed by promotion into higher levels of Croatian team chess. Over the years, the organization expanded its activities beyond league competition. It developed the Hum Open, formed additional teams, created a chess school, and established regular club tournaments and community activities.

🎓 Youth Chess

Youth development remains an important part of the club’s current program. Straža operates a chess school with nine young players. In 2026, Milan Štruklec and Josip Krklec have been actively accompanying and training the club’s juniors at regional competitions. Young Straža players competed during 2026 in events in Pregrada, Kumrovec, and Donja Stubica. The club also introduced junior player Ivan Špoljar into its senior league team during the 2026 season, illustrating the pathway from chess-school training into adult competition.

♜ Team and Club Chess

Šahovski klub Straža currently competes in the IV League Center D of the Croatian team championship. The club’s regular program also includes monthly internal tournaments. These events bring together adult members and younger players and provide consistent competitive practice throughout the year. Straža also participates in tournaments throughout the Zagorje region and maintains long-standing friendly chess relationships with clubs including ŠK Tabor Maribor and ŠK Šmarje pri Jelšah in Slovenia.

🏆 Hum Open

The Hum Open is the club’s flagship tournament and has been organized since 2007. Over time, it developed into the International Open Championship of Krapina-Zagorje County, attracting players from Croatia and neighboring countries. The club’s website maintains tournament archives covering editions from the inaugural event through the present period. The 18th Open Hum na Sutli 2026 takes place from August 22–29, 2026 at the DVD Straža Fire Station in Hum na Sutli. It is a nine-round FIDE-rated classical tournament played at 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. Josip Krklec serves as Tournament Director, with International Arbiter Radmila Švaljek as Chief Arbiter and IA Mirjana Medić as Deputy Chief Arbiter.

🤝 Community Chess

Straža maintains a close connection with the community of Hum na Sutli. The club organizes the traditional chess tournament connected with Hum na Sutli Municipality Day and has also supported memorial and community competitions in the surrounding area. In May 2026, the municipality tournament again included strong participation by the club’s young players. The organization has also participated in local volunteer activities and works with the Municipality of Hum na Sutli and other regional partners to sustain chess activity in the area.

🏛️ Organization and Leadership

Josip Krklec is the current President of Šahovski klub Straža and has led the organization since 2013. He remains directly involved in virtually every part of the club’s work, including youth chess, league competition, internal tournaments, community events, and the Hum Open. Current 2026 tournament records confirm him as Tournament Director of the 18th Hum Open.