♟️ About AE Lechainon Chess Section

AE Lechainon Chess Section (ΑΕ Λεχαινών) is the chess department of Athlitiki Enosi Lechainon, a multisport association based in Lechaina, Elis, in the western Peloponnese of Greece. The parent association was founded in 1980, while chess activity began in late 1982. Today, the section combines chess instruction, competitive play, internal events, federation competitions, and tournament organization.

The club provides chess instruction for children and adults at different playing levels. Its official program includes regular Saturday training, while its players participate in individual, school, regional, and national competitions. AE Lechainon also works with other chess organizations in Elis, particularly the Pyrgos chess community, to organize classical and rapid tournaments in Lechaina, Pyrgos, Kyllini, and surrounding areas.

Michail Sigouros is the section’s chess coach and principal chess contact. He is also a FIDE-listed National Arbiter (NA) and regularly works as chief arbiter for the club’s tournaments. Christos Diplas serves as the Chess Section Officer and has acted as Tournament Director for major AE Lechainon events. In August 2026, the club organized the 15th Ev Agonizesthai 2026, its established summer rapid competition in Pyrgos.

📜 History and Development

Athlitiki Enosi Lechainon was created in 1980 as a local sports organization serving children and residents of Lechaina and the surrounding area. The association initially developed around athletics before gradually expanding into additional sports. It now operates several sporting departments, including chess. Chess was introduced to AE Lechainon in late 1982. Over the following decades, many local players participated through the club as competitive players or recreational chess enthusiasts. More recently, the section has developed a structured training program and a competitive team participating in events within the Greek federation system.

🎓 Chess Training and Youth Development

Chess education remains one of the section’s principal activities. Michail Sigouros coaches both advanced junior and adult groups, while the club states that beginners can start from approximately four and a half years of age. Training groups are organized according to age and playing strength. The official weekly schedule includes chess training on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Alongside formal instruction, players gain practical experience through games, internal competitions, and events against other clubs. AE Lechainon players also participate in school chess and individual championships.

🏆 Tournament Activity

AE Lechainon maintains an active tournament program across classical and rapid chess. The 1st Standard AE Lechainon 2026 was held from January 2–4 in Pyrgos. It used a six-round Swiss system and was submitted through the Greek Chess Federation for rating purposes. The club also continued its rapid program in 2026. The 2nd Kyllini Port 2026 Open Rapid was organized by AE Lechainon in cooperation with Pyrgos Chess Academy and included separate Open and U12 competitions.

Its most established summer event is Ev Agonizesthai. The 15th Ev Agonizesthai 2026 took place from August 21–23, 2026 at Café Eparcheion in the central square of Pyrgos. AE Lechainon and SA Pyrgou organized the Open competition, with Christos Diplas as Tournament Director and Michail Sigouros as Chief Arbiter. The main event was a nine-round FIDE-rated rapid tournament played at 20 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move, alongside a separate U12 competition.

🏛️ Chess Section Leadership

Michail Sigouros leads the training program and is the primary public contact for the chess section. In addition to coaching, he is an active tournament official and FIDE National Arbiter. Christos Diplas is listed by the club as the official responsible for the chess section. He also serves in tournament-management roles, including as Tournament Director of the 2026 Ev Agonizesthai rapid tournament.