Centro de Excelência de Xadrez

♟️ About Centro de Excelência de Xadrez

Centro de Excelência de Xadrez (CEX) is a nonprofit chess organization based in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Active since 2000, CEX promotes chess as a competitive sport, educational resource, and instrument for intellectual and social development. Its work extends across Paraná through tournaments, school programs, teacher and coach education, institutional partnerships, and projects designed to increase access to chess. CEX currently organizes approximately four major FIDE tournament programs each year and reports competitors from more than 20 countries, with individual editions attracting more than 500 players. Its principal competitive project is the Festival de Xadrez do Paraná, which connects international tournaments in different cities across the state. In addition, CEX develops educational projects with municipalities and schools and supports technical training for chess professionals in cooperation with organizations including FIDE. Jonel Nazareno Iurk currently serves as President of the Board of Administration, while César Souza is Executive Superintendent. GM Jaime Sunye Neto, one of Brazil’s most accomplished chess figures, serves as Administrative-Financial Director and remains a prominent public representative of CEX. The organization has a particularly active 2026 calendar. After events in Foz do Iguaçu and Caiobá, its next competition is the I Torneio Internacional de Cascavel from September 4–7, 2026, followed by the V Copa Campo Mourão de Xadrez from December 3–6.

📜 More Than 25 Years of Chess Development

CEX has worked in Paraná for more than 25 years, building partnerships across competitive chess, education, training, and community development. Its institutional mission focuses on using chess and mind sports to promote intellectual and social development, with particular attention to education, research, critical thinking, and innovation. As a result, its role goes beyond that of a conventional tournament organizer. One of the best-known figures associated with CEX is GM Jaime Sunye Neto. The Curitiba-born Grandmaster is a seven-time Brazilian champion, represented Brazil at eight Chess Olympiads, and won an individual gold medal on first board at the 1992 Manila Olympiad. He also previously served as President of the Confederação Brasileira de Xadrez (CBX) and as a FIDE Vice President for the Americas.

🎓 Education and Technical Training

Education forms a central part of CEX’s current work. The organization supports projects that introduce chess into schools while training teachers to use the game as a pedagogical resource. A notable example is Xadrez nas Escolas de Pontal, developed with the Municipality and Municipal Department of Education of Pontal do Paraná. Active since 2021, the project includes continuing education for teachers and explores chess as an inclusive educational tool, including its application with students on the autism spectrum. CEX also participates in technical training for coaches and competitive players. In July 2025, it organized the Campus Híbrido para Treinadores e Jogadores de Xadrez Paraná with the FIDE America Trainers Commission. GM Andrés Rodríguez Vila served as Technical Coordinator, while César Souza was Executive Coordinator. Therefore, CEX connects tournament organization with the development of the people who teach, coach, and expand chess throughout the region.

🏆 Festival de Xadrez do Paraná 2026

The Festival de Xadrez do Paraná is CEX’s principal competitive project. The 2026 program consists of four major international stages in different Paraná cities and includes FIDE, CBX, and amateur competitions. The festival opened with the V Aberto Internacional das Três Fronteiras, held from May 22–24, 2026 in Foz do Iguaçu. Players from Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay competed in rapid and blitz tournaments, while the opening program included a workshop connecting chess with tourism. The second major stage was the X Festival Internacional de Xadrez SESC Caiobá, held from June 26–July 5, 2026 at Hotel SESC Caiobá in Matinhos. The ten-day program included Standard, Rapid, Blitz, Amateur U1800, Chess960, university, and school competitions, together with lectures and coach-development activities. The Caiobá festival offered a total prize fund of R$122,000, making it the largest prize allocation in the 2026 CEX program.

🌟 Cascavel and Campo Mourão 2026

The next Festival de Xadrez do Paraná event is the I Torneio Internacional de Cascavel, scheduled for September 4–7, 2026 at the Salão Social da Associação Atlética Comercial in Cascavel. The program includes Standard, Rapid, and Blitz tournaments, all using the Swiss system and eligible for FIDE rating. The classical competition will consist of six rounds at 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment, while the overall event offers R$15,000 in prizes. CEX organizes the Cascavel event together with Clube de Xadrez de Curitiba (CXC) and AXSO, with support from state and municipal institutions. The 2026 circuit will conclude with the V Copa Campo Mourão de Xadrez from December 3–6, 2026. CEX currently lists a combined R$30,000 prize fund for the Campo Mourão program. The calendar already continues into 2027, with the XI Festival Internacional de Xadrez SESC Caiobá scheduled for June 25–July 4, 2027.

🤝 Partnerships and Chess Development

CEX works through a broad partnership network involving SESC Paraná, FIDE, CBX, Universidade Federal do Paraná, state government departments, municipalities, chess clubs, schools, and educational institutions. This model allows the organization to operate beyond Curitiba and bring international-rated chess to several cities. At the same time, educational and training projects extend CEX’s impact beyond players who already participate in competitive tournaments. Through this combination of international events, education, coach development, school chess, and community projects, Centro de Excelência de Xadrez maintains one of the most diverse chess-development programs in Paraná.