Nicolò Napoli

♟️ About Nicolò Napoli

Nicolò Napoli is an Italian FIDE Master, professional chess coach, tournament organizer, and chess content creator based in Ibiza, Spain. Born in 1985, he represents Italy in the FIDE rating system under FIDE ID 813702 and received the FIDE Master title in 2008. His professional chess activity now centers largely on Ibiza, where he leads Chess Ibiza and organizes tournaments, training programs, community events, and international chess projects. Napoli combines competitive playing experience with coaching and event management. FIDE records a FIDE Trainer title dated 2013, although the current FIDE profile marks that trainer credential as Not licensed. He has also received multiple instructor recognitions from the Italian Chess Federation, including awards connected with his coaching work in 2011, 2015, and 2019. Over the years, his teaching has included individual coaching, group instruction, junior development, online training, chess camps, lectures, and work with clubs in Italy and abroad. His current organizer activity is closely connected with Chess Ibiza, the Associació Cultural Amics dels Escacs, and the Ibiza Chess Festival. However, these are distinct entities and projects: Nicolò Napoli is the individual organizer and tournament director, Chess Ibiza is his professional chess project, Amics dels Escacs is a cultural chess association, and Ibiza Chess Festival is a tournament brand. Current 2026 festival information identifies Napoli as President of Amics dels Escacs as well as organizer of the Ibiza Chess Festival.

♟️ Playing Career and FIDE Titles

Nicolò Napoli represents Italy in the FIDE rating system. He received the FIDE Master title in 2008 and remains an active rated player. His FIDE profile records a career peak standard rating of approximately 2400, while he continues to compete in classical, rapid, and blitz events. Napoli has remained competitively active while developing his organizational work in Ibiza. In 2025, he won the XV Open Internacional Ciudad de Eivissa with 6.5 points from seven games. He also produced a perfect 9/9 performance in the blitz competition of the 2025 Ibiza Chess Festival. His competitive background gives him direct experience of tournament conditions from both sides: as a player and as an event organizer.

🎓 Coaching and Chess Education

Chess instruction has been a major part of Nicolò Napoli's professional career. The Italian Chess Federation recognized him as Instructor of the Year for Central Italy in 2011 and 2015, and he received another FSI instructor recognition connected with his work in 2019. His coaching experience has covered players from beginner level through strong competitive club players. He has worked through private lessons, chess clubs, youth programs, online coaching, group courses, training camps, and international chess projects. Napoli has taught and collaborated in several countries and has worked with chess organizations in different parts of Italy. His earlier coaching activity included substantial work in Lazio, where he collaborated with clubs and youth programs. Today, his training activity is primarily promoted through Chess Ibiza and his online Nicolochess platforms.

🏆 Ibiza Chess Festival

The Ibiza Chess Festival is one of Nicolò Napoli's principal current tournament projects. The event takes place in Sant Antoni de Portmany and combines competitive chess with Ibiza's international tourism environment. Napoli serves as organizer and tournament director, while experienced titled arbiters supervise the competitions. The 2025 festival attracted more than 100 players representing 15 countries. It included professional players, titled competitors, club players, and amateur participants. The IV Ibiza Chess Festival 2026 is scheduled for October 2–3, 2026. Its current program includes FIDE-rated rapid and blitz competition. Official Chess-Results records list Nicolò Napoli, FIDE ID 813702, as both organizer and tournament director. The festival therefore represents a direct continuation of his work to develop international over-the-board chess in Ibiza.

⚡ Rapid, Blitz and Amateur Chess

Napoli's tournament program in Ibiza is not limited to classical chess. The 2026 Ibiza Travel competitions include separate FIDE-rated rapid and blitz events in Sant Antoni de Portmany, as well as an amateur rapid competition designed to make the festival accessible to a broader range of players. This multi-format approach has become a recognizable feature of his Ibiza projects. It gives titled players and experienced competitors rated competition while also creating opportunities for club and amateur players. Napoli is directly responsible for tournament direction, player communication, promotion, and the wider organization of these events.

🤝 Amics dels Escacs and Community Chess

Nicolò Napoli also works closely with the Associació Cultural Amics dels Escacs, an established Ibiza chess association involved in tournaments, community activities, youth chess, and local promotion of the game. The official Ibiza Chess Festival site identifies Napoli in 2026 as President of Amics dels Escacs. The association and Chess Ibiza collaborate on activities across the island. These include popular tournaments, youth events, local festival competitions, simultaneous exhibitions, and chess activities organized with municipalities and neighborhood organizations. In March 2026, for example, Amics dels Escacs and Chess Ibiza collaborated on the San José festivities chess tournament. The event combined an Open competition with an Under-14 section and was designed for both experienced and amateur players.

🌍 Chess Ibiza

Chess Ibiza is Nicolò Napoli's professional chess project on the island. The initiative combines chess training, event organization, promotion, and international chess tourism. Its activities are aimed at local residents as well as players visiting Ibiza from Spain and abroad. Through Chess Ibiza, Napoli provides coaching and develops chess events in distinctive island locations. The project also helps connect local chess organizations with hotels, municipalities, sponsors, and international participants. Chess Ibiza serves as the principal professional website and contact platform for his current work.

🎥 Chess Media and Commentary

Napoli also maintains an active chess-media presence under the Nicolochess / Scacchi per Tutti identity. His online work includes tournament commentary, educational videos, analysis, livestreams, and practical chess instruction. His YouTube channel has developed a substantial archive of chess content, while his Lichess account remains active as both a player and recognized chess streamer. Tournament organizers in Italy have also used Napoli's channel for live commentary of FIDE-rated events. This gives his work a media dimension in addition to coaching and tournament administration.

📜 Earlier Organizing Experience

Nicolò Napoli's tournament-organizing experience predates his current work in Ibiza. He was already active in the Palermo chess environment during the 2000s and was associated with the Accademia Scacchistica Palermitana. His work included tournament organization, international chess events, and projects involving leading players. Later projects combined chess competition with travel and tourism. This experience anticipated the model he now uses in Ibiza, where international tournaments are promoted together with the island destination. His career has therefore developed across several connected roles: competitive player, coach, tournament organizer, commentator, promoter, and chess-project manager.