Accademia Scacchistica Napoletana

♟️ About Accademia Scacchistica Napoletana

Accademia Scacchistica Napoletana is an active chess club and training organization based in the historic center of Naples, Italy. The modern academy was created with the aim of reviving the tradition of the historic Neapolitan chess academy founded by Giorgio Porreca and Dario Cecaro in the 1950s. Its philosophy combines competitive chess with education, personal development, and an active club community. The academy welcomes beginners, club players, juniors, and experienced competitors. Members can participate in regular club sessions, chess courses, tournaments, workshops, and masterclasses. Its current training program includes FSI-qualified instructors and sessions with prominent Italian and international players, including GM Alessio Valsecchi, GM Lorenzo Lodici, and IM Miragha Aghayev. Fabio Buiano is the current President and principal public contact. He is an experienced competitive player, Candidate Master, and chess instructor. The leadership team also includes Enrico Messina, Vice President and FSI Master, and WFM Maria De Rosa, a former three-time Italian Women’s Champion and experienced chess instructor.

📜 Chess Tradition and Development

The academy deliberately connects its modern activities with Naples’ long chess tradition. Its inspiration comes from the original Accademia Scacchistica Napoletana associated with Giorgio Porreca and Dario Cecaro. The current organization emphasizes that an academy should develop people as well as chess players, making education a central part of its identity. Its club venue at Vico Pallonetto Santa Chiara provides a permanent base in central Naples for lessons, practice, tournaments, and community activities.

🎓 Chess Courses and Masterclasses

Training is one of the academy’s main activities. The 2025–2026 chess program offered separate first- and second-level courses, with instruction focused on fundamental technique, tactics, calculation, positional understanding, and practical improvement. The academy also regularly organizes specialist masterclasses. Its 2026 program included sessions with GM Alessio Valsecchi, GM Lorenzo Lodici, and IM Miragha Aghayev, giving club players access to high-level instruction alongside their regular courses.

🏆 Tournaments and Events

Accademia Scacchistica Napoletana maintains an active tournament and event calendar in Naples. Its activities include classical tournaments, rapid and blitz events, club competitions, workshops, and public chess events. In July 2026, for example, the academy organized a blitz event at Castel Sant’Elmo, bringing chess into one of Naples’ best-known cultural locations. The academy also encourages collaborations and new tournament projects, with selected events open to players who are not club members.

🌍 Il Tesoro di San Gennaro International Chess Festival

A major new project for 2026 is the 1st International Chess Festival “Il Tesoro di San Gennaro”, scheduled for September 18–20, 2026 at the Mostra d’Oltremare in Naples. The festival forms part of the Napoli European Capital of Sport 2026 program and is intended to develop into an important chess event for southern Italy. The competition consists of two FIDE-rated sections:

• Tournament A – for players rated above 1799
• Tournament B – for players rated below 1900

Both sections are played over five rounds with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The total prize fund is €3,500, including €1,000 for the winner of Tournament A. The event demonstrates the academy’s ambition to combine Naples’ cultural identity with serious international tournament chess.

🏛️ Organization and Leadership

Fabio Buiano serves as President of Accademia Scacchistica Napoletana and is the organization’s primary public contact. He is also directly involved in tournaments, training, and club development. Enrico Messina serves as Vice President. He is an FSI Master and chess instructor with extensive competitive experience. WFM Maria De Rosa is a board member and senior instructor. Her career includes three Italian Women’s Championship titles, numerous Italian youth titles, and four appearances for Italy at the Chess Olympiad.