♟️ About Club de Ajedrez Choele Choel

Club de Ajedrez Choele Choel is a chess association based in Choele Choel, Río Negro, Argentina. The club promotes competitive, educational, and community chess throughout the Valle Medio region. Moreover, it is affiliated with the Federación Argentina de Ajedrez (FADA), which allows the organization to run official rated tournaments and connect local players with Argentina’s national chess structure.

The club emerged as a new local chess organization in 2024 and joined FADA in June of that year. Soon afterward, it organized Choele Choel’s first major international-rated chess competition. Since then, the association has developed a regional tournament circuit, FIDE-rated events, youth competitions, and a growing international open. In February 2026, the club reached another institutional milestone when it received its personería jurídica in Río Negro.

Nicolás Ezequiel Silva currently serves as President of Club de Ajedrez Choele Choel. He also works directly in tournament administration and serves as Tournament Director for the club’s major competitions. FIDE identifies Silva as Chief Organizer of club events, including the 2025 Abierto Internacional del Valle Medio and stages of the 2026 Gran Prix del Valle Medio.

🏆 Tournament Organization and FIDE Activity

Tournament organization has driven much of the club’s rapid development. From its first season, Club de Ajedrez Choele Choel aimed to bring nationally and internationally rated chess to the Valle Medio region.

In October 2024, the club organized the IRT del Valle Medio – Sub 2400 in Choele Choel. The event marked the first international-rated tournament of this scale in the area. Its wider program included the principal classical tournament, youth competition, and blitz chess, attracting players from different parts of Argentina.

The club expanded this work during 2025. It created a broader regional circuit while also preparing the first Abierto Internacional del Valle Medio. That competition brought titled players to Choele Choel and placed the city on Argentina’s FIDE-rated tournament calendar.

FIDE registered Nicolás Ezequiel Silva as Chief Organizer of the 2025 International Open. The event featured Grandmaster Sandro Mareco together with several International Masters and strong players from Argentina and abroad.

Therefore, the club moved from local amateur events to significant FIDE-rated competition in a relatively short period.

⚡ Gran Prix del Valle Medio

The Gran Prix del Valle Medio has become one of Club de Ajedrez Choele Choel’s principal regional projects. The circuit connects players from Choele Choel with other communities across Río Negro and neighboring areas.

The first circuit developed from the club’s amateur tournament activity and used five separate stages in different Valle Medio locations. Events brought together adults, juniors, experienced competitors, and newcomers.

In 2026, the club organized the 2º Gran Prix del Valle Medio. The circuit again consisted of five stages and traveled through communities including Choele Choel, Luis Beltrán, and Río Colorado. Other regional players regularly traveled from Coronel Belisle, Chimpay, Villa Regina, General Roca, Chichinales, Neuquén, and Bahía Blanca.

The competition combines Libre and Infanto-Juvenil categories. Moreover, the Libre section includes FIDE-rated rapid chess, creating an accessible route into international rating for regional players.

For example, the fifth stage in Choele Choel used a six-round Swiss format with 12 minutes plus three seconds per move. FIDE registered Nicolás Ezequiel Silva as Chief Organizer and Federico Fortunati as Organizer for that event.

The parallel youth competition is equally important. It gives children and young players regular competitive experience while allowing them to participate in the same regional circuit as experienced adult players.

🌟 Abierto Internacional del Valle Medio

The Abierto Internacional del Valle Medio represents the club’s flagship tournament. Club de Ajedrez Choele Choel launched the event as part of its effort to bring high-level classical chess to northern Patagonia.

The first major edition in 2025 attracted a strong field led by Argentine Grandmaster Sandro Mareco. International Masters and other titled competitors also traveled to Choele Choel. In addition, the event offered substantial cash prizes and online transmission of leading games.

The tournament returns from October 9–12, 2026 as the 2º Abierto Internacional del Valle Medio. Club de Ajedrez Choele Choel again serves as the official organizer, while Nicolás Silva acts as Tournament Director.

Players compete over seven Swiss rounds with a classical time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Results count for both national and FIDE rating. The tournament takes place at the Estadio Polideportivo Municipal de Choele Choel.

The organizers advertise ARS 5,000,000 in total prizes. First place receives ARS 1,200,000, while additional awards extend through the overall standings and several rating categories.

The current field again includes Grandmaster Sandro Mareco. Moreover, several International Masters and strong players from Argentina and other federations have entered the tournament.

Consequently, the event gives local and Patagonian players a rare opportunity to face nationally and internationally experienced opponents without traveling to Argentina’s largest chess centers.

🧒 Youth Chess and Regional Development

Club de Ajedrez Choele Choel combines tournament organization with a broader community objective. Its activities bring together children, young players, adults, educators, and recreational chess enthusiasts.

The club has emphasized chess as both a competitive sport and an educational activity. In particular, its organizers promote concentration, responsibility, strategic thinking, and respect for opponents.

Youth participation has therefore remained part of the program from the beginning. The Gran Prix includes a dedicated Infanto-Juvenil category, while earlier club events have combined junior tournaments with adult competition.

The club also works with municipalities and local institutions across the Valle Medio. For example, municipalities in Choele Choel, Luis Beltrán, and Río Colorado have supported stages of the regional circuit. Local organizations have also provided venues and logistical assistance.

This cooperative structure allows the club to organize tournaments outside its home city. As a result, Club de Ajedrez Choele Choel increasingly functions as a regional chess organizer for the Valle Medio, rather than only as a local playing group.

Its FADA affiliation strengthened that development by allowing more competitions to receive official rating. Meanwhile, the club’s 2026 legal recognition provides a stronger institutional base for future tournaments and community projects.