A.S.D. Pedone Isolano

♟️ About A.S.D. Pedone Isolano

A.S.D. Pedone Isolano is a competitive chess club based in Misilmeri, in the province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The club combines high-level team chess with youth development, chess instruction, school projects, and FIDE-rated tournament organization. Francesco Cardinale is the current President and principal public contact. Pedone Isolano has become one of Sicily’s most successful chess organizations. Its women’s team won the Italian Women’s Team Championship in both 2023 and 2024, while the club’s first team has established itself among the strongest teams in the Italian Serie Master. In 2024, Pedone Isolano finished second in the national Master championship, narrowly missing the overall Italian title. The club remains at the highest national level in 2026. Pedone Isolano finished second in the 2026 Italian Team Championship Serie Master and also took second place in the 2026 Italian Women’s Team Championship. Alongside these elite teams, the organization maintains several additional squads and a strong youth program, giving developing Sicilian players a pathway from local chess into national competition.

🏆 National Team Success

Team chess is one of the strongest elements of Pedone Isolano’s identity. The club won its first Italian Women’s Team Championship in 2023, fielding a strong squad that included IM Sophie Milliet, WIM Tea Gueci, WFM Maria Palma, Valeria Martinelli, Angela Flavia Grimaldi, Anna Pia Vecchione, and Costanza Fiolo. Pedone Isolano successfully defended the title in 2024, becoming Italian women’s champion for the second consecutive year. During the same championship week, the club’s Serie Master team finished second in Italy, confirming its strength in both open and women’s competition. The club returned to the national podium in 2026, finishing runner-up to Lazio Scacchi in Serie Master. It also earned silver in the women’s championship, behind Caissa Italia Agnelli 1907.

♜ Competitive Chess in 2026

Pedone Isolano maintains considerable depth beyond its first team. For the 2026 Italian Team Championship structure, the club has teams with rights in Serie Master, Serie A2, Serie B, and Serie C. This allows players of different strengths and levels of experience to represent the organization in official team competition. The club’s 2026 registered player group also includes several titled competitors, among them GM Luca Moroni, IM Sophie Milliet, IM Alberto Barp, IM Valerio Carnicelli, IM Ilia Martinovici, and FM Joshuaede Cappelletto.

🎓 Youth Chess and Training

Youth development is another major area of activity. Pedone Isolano organizes chess instruction in Misilmeri and has also worked with local schools. Its educational programs use qualified chess instructors and introduce young players to both the fundamentals of the game and structured competition. The club regularly enters juniors in regional and national youth events and maintains youth teams within the Italian competition structure. In March 2026, Pedone Isolano organized the 3rd Weekend Under 18 Isolano Tournament at its Misilmeri club venue. The competition consisted of five FIDE-rated standard games and included awards for U8, U10, U12, U14, and U16 players.

🌍 Sicily Chess Tournaments

Pedone Isolano also organizes open FIDE-rated tournaments in Misilmeri. One of its principal current projects is the Sicily Chess Weekend series. The 2nd Weekend “Sicily Chess” takes place from October 16–18, 2026 in Misilmeri. The tournament consists of five FIDE-rated classical rounds and is divided into two sections according to rating. The event uses a classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move and offers a €1,000 prize fund. Francesco Cardinale is the principal organizer and registration contact.

🤝 Chess in Misilmeri

Pedone Isolano provides an important competitive base for chess players in Misilmeri and the wider Palermo area. Its activities combine local instruction and youth development with participation at the highest level of Italian team chess. This structure allows young and improving players to train within the same organization that represents Sicily in national championship competition. The club is also active in wider Sicilian chess initiatives and has collaborated with other organizations and the regional chess committee on major events.

🏛️ Organization and Leadership

Francesco Cardinale is the current President and principal contact of A.S.D. Pedone Isolano. He remains directly responsible for the club’s national team entries and is the listed organizer contact for its current 2026 competitions. Official Italian Chess Federation records continue to use his email and telephone number for Pedone Isolano’s team activity.