♟️ About the Organizer

Centro Insular de Ajedrez de La Palma is an island-wide chess organization based in Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. It promotes competitive chess, youth development, training, and public chess activities across La Palma. In addition, it manages the Ajedrez La Palma website, which serves as an information center for the island’s chess community.

José Carlos Martín Rodríguez leads the organization as president. He also plays a central role in tournament direction, institutional cooperation, and chess promotion. Moreover, he regularly represents the organization at tournament presentations, school events, and official ceremonies.

The center works with chess clubs throughout La Palma. Its official website features Baltajaque, Isla Bonita, Roque Niquiomo, Breñadrez, and Santa Cruz de La Palma. Therefore, the organization connects local club activity with island championships, school programs, and regional competition.

It also cooperates with the Cabildo Insular de La Palma, local municipalities, the Canary Islands Chess Federation, and regional sports authorities. These partnerships support tournaments, player development, technical training, and chess promotion. As a result, the center can deliver activities in several municipalities rather than focusing on one venue.

🏆 Tournaments and Chess Events

The organization’s leading event is the International Chess Tournament “Playing with the Stars.” The tournament takes place in Santa Cruz de La Palma and attracts titled players, club competitors, juniors, and international visitors. Furthermore, the festival combines high-level competition with activities that promote the island as a chess destination.

The 2025 festival featured ten Swiss-system rounds and more than €19,000 in prizes. It also welcomed players from different countries and rating levels. Meanwhile, the official Ajedrez La Palma archive documents earlier international festivals and tournaments dating back many years.

Centro Insular de Ajedrez de La Palma also organizes the Breña Baja Mágica International Chess Tournament with the Canary Islands Chess Federation. The 2026 edition featured nine classical rounds and opportunities to achieve FIDE norms. In addition, the tournament offered a substantial prize fund and accommodation options for visiting players.

The center supports many other events across the island. These include the Guanche de Plata, Canary Islands championships, island championships, local rapid tournaments, and municipal festival competitions. It also cooperates with local clubs when they organize events in Breña Alta, Breña Baja, Los Llanos de Aridane, Villa de Mazo, El Paso, and other municipalities.

The organizing team manages tournament regulations, registrations, schedules, pairings, arbitration, rating submissions, and participant communication. Moreover, selected competitions use electronic boards and online broadcasts. These services allow players and spectators to follow important games remotely.

🌱 Youth Chess and Island Development

Youth chess forms a major part of the center’s work. The organization supports the Cabildo de La Palma’s sports promotion program and helps coordinate school chess across the island. Through this program, children receive instruction and gain access to organized competition.

The school program has reached most municipalities in La Palma. It includes local training groups, island finals, and qualification events for Canary Islands championships. Therefore, young players can progress from school activities to federated competition.

Recent school finals have included categories from Under-8 to Under-16. Almost 100 young players attended the 2023 island finals. In addition, the events emphasized sporting conduct, friendship, and cooperation between players from different municipalities.

The center also supports technical training for promising juniors. Stronger players can attend advanced sessions and prepare for regional, Spanish, and international championships. Meanwhile, local clubs provide regular practice and team competition. This structure creates a clear pathway from introductory chess to advanced tournament play.

The Cabildo de La Palma continues to support the organization’s promotion and technical development work. Consequently, the center can maintain school activities, training projects, and an extensive island tournament program.