♟️ About A.S.D. Scacchi Sanremo “Nenad Šulava”

A.S.D. Scacchi Sanremo “Nenad Šulava” is a chess association based in Sanremo, Liguria, Italy. The club is affiliated with the Federazione Scacchistica Italiana (FSI) under affiliation code 8039. It organizes FIDE-rated tournaments, junior competitions, local chess events, training activities, and regular club sessions in Sanremo.

The association emerged in late 2023 and chose to honor Grandmaster Nenad Šulava, who had strong ties with Italian chess. The club officially inaugurated its headquarters on February 4, 2024. During the ceremony, FSI President Luigi Maggi highlighted Sanremo’s exceptional chess heritage, including Italy’s first international chess tournament in 1911 and the famous Sanremo tournament of 1930. Moreover, the association has expressed a long-term ambition to help celebrate the centenary of the 1930 event in 2030.

John Pasqui currently serves as President and legal representative of A.S.D. Scacchi Sanremo “Nenad Šulava.” He has led the association since its creation and remains its principal public and tournament contact. Meanwhile, Alessandro Orrigo and Giancarlo Tortorella regularly support the club’s tournament administration and appear as additional contacts on official competition documents.

🏛️ Sanremo Chess Heritage and Club Development

Sanremo holds an important place in international chess history, and the association deliberately connects its modern activity with that tradition. In 1911, the city hosted the first international chess tournament organized in Italy. Then, in 1930, Sanremo staged the celebrated tournament won by Alexander Alekhine against a field that included leading players such as Aron Nimzowitsch, Akiba Rubinstein, Savielly Tartakower, Efim Bogoljubow, and Géza Maróczy.

The new club has used that history as a foundation for its own tournament program. However, it does not simply commemorate earlier events. Instead, it actively organizes new FIDE-rated competitions and works with the City of Sanremo to use distinctive local venues for chess.

During its early development, the association organized tournaments at Palazzo Nota, the former Church of Santa Brigida, and Forte Santa Tecla. Furthermore, municipal cooperation has allowed the club to connect tournament chess with some of Sanremo’s best-known cultural and historical locations.

The club currently plays regularly at Palazzo Spinola, Piazza dei Dolori 7. Members normally meet there on Saturday and Sunday evenings. In addition, the association works with Pigna Mon Amour to provide chess courses adapted to participants’ experience levels.

🏆 Tournament Organization and Competitive Activity

Tournament organization has become one of the club’s principal activities since its foundation. A.S.D. Scacchi Sanremo “Nenad Šulava” runs classical, rapid, youth, and community chess events in Sanremo and elsewhere in the western Liguria area.

The association launched the modern Festival Internazionale di Scacchi “Città di Sanremo” in 2024. The first edition marked an important step in the club’s development by bringing international FIDE-rated tournament chess back into its growing program.

The second edition followed from November 28–30, 2025 at Forte Santa Tecla. The tournament offered two FIDE/FSI-rated sections and a total advertised prize fund of €3,500. Moreover, participants represented several national federations, demonstrating the cross-border potential created by Sanremo’s location close to France and Monaco.

The association also organizes shorter events. These have included the Trofeo d’Inverno, summer chess activities such as Scacchi sotto le Stelle, and other local tournaments. Consequently, the club maintains activity throughout the year rather than concentrating solely on one annual festival.

🌟 3rd Festival Internazionale di Scacchi “Città di Sanremo” 2026

A.S.D. Scacchi Sanremo “Nenad Šulava” organizes the 3rd Festival Internazionale di Scacchi “Città di Sanremo” from October 16–18, 2026. For this edition, the tournament moves to one of Sanremo’s most recognizable venues: the Casinò di Sanremo, Corso degli Inglesi 18.

The festival consists of two competitions. Open A accepts players with an Elo rating of at least 1399, while Open B provides a separate Under-16 competition starting from unrated players. Both tournaments receive FIDE/FSI homologation.

Open A uses a five-round Swiss system with a classical time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Meanwhile, Open B uses five rounds at 15 minutes plus 30 seconds per move.

The organizers advertise a total prize fund of €3,000. Open A offers cash prizes for the leading overall players as well as rating categories, women, seniors, and young competitors. In addition, the Under-16 event awards chess equipment, trophies, medals, and books.

The tournament regulations place the organizational responsibility directly with A.S.D. Scacchi Sanremo “Nenad Šulava”. Entry fees go to the association’s bank account, while John Pasqui, Alessandro Orrigo, and Giancarlo Tortorella handle participant information. Therefore, neither the Casinò di Sanremo nor the City of Sanremo should replace the chess association as the tournament organizer.

🧒 Junior Chess and Youth Development

Youth chess forms another important part of the association’s program. The club combines instruction with tournaments that give young players access to official FSI and FIDE competition.

In February 2025, A.S.D. Scacchi Sanremo “Nenad Šulava” organized a CIG U18 qualification tournament at Palazzo Spinola. The competition included U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, and U18 categories and counted for FIDE Rapid rating.

The association then organized the Liguria Regional U18 Championship in Sanremo in May 2025. Therefore, the club moved quickly from introductory local activity into events connected with the Italian national junior championship pathway.

Chess lessons continue alongside competition. The club and Pigna Mon Amour arrange courses according to participants’ ability and group size. Furthermore, the club’s regular playing sessions give young players opportunities to practice outside formal tournaments.

The current national sports register confirms that the association remains active in 2026 with 23 competitive FSI members and two recreational members. This provides a developing membership base for further junior, tournament, and community activity.

🤝 Community Chess and Local Partnerships

A.S.D. Scacchi Sanremo “Nenad Šulava” works closely with organizations and institutions throughout the Sanremo area. The City of Sanremo has supported several of its events and has made municipal and historic venues available for tournament activity.

The association also works with Pigna Mon Amour, which supports the club’s activity at Palazzo Spinola. Meanwhile, the club has maintained links with chess organizations elsewhere in Liguria, especially in the province of Imperia.

Public chess forms part of this community program as well. For example, the association has organized outdoor and summer events in central Sanremo. It has also staged competitions in neighboring communities with local sporting associations and municipal support.

Consequently, the club combines formal FSI competition with a broader effort to make chess visible within the city. This approach connects Sanremo’s historical chess reputation with regular modern club activity.