Barcellona Scacchi

♟️ About A.S.D. Barcellona Scacchi

A.S.D. Barcellona Scacchi is an active chess association based in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Sicily, Italy. Founded in January 2021, the club developed from an informal group of chess enthusiasts into an organized association promoting competitive, junior, educational, and community chess. The club is led by Giuseppe Zangla, who serves as President and is closely involved in its tournament organization, coaching initiatives, and relationships with the wider Sicilian chess community. Its headquarters at Via Carducci 14 provides a regular meeting and training venue for members. Since its foundation, Barcellona Scacchi has grown quickly and has attracted players across a broad age range. The association welcomes both experienced competitors and newcomers, while its junior activities introduce children to organized chess through courses, training sessions, and tournaments.

🏆 Tournaments & Chess Activities

Tournament organization has become one of the club’s main activities. A.S.D. Barcellona Scacchi stages FIDE-rated classical competitions, rapid tournaments, junior events, regional championships, and competitions outside its home city. Its flagship local event is the Festival di Scacchi Barcellona, which reached its 8th edition in 2026. The festival takes place in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto and features several rating-based sections, allowing players of different strengths to compete in appropriate groups. The 2026 edition includes Open A, B and C tournaments together with a dedicated U18 junior section. The club has also expanded its organizational activities beyond Sicily. Together with Gruppo Scacco Matto Eugubino, it organizes the Festival Internazionale di Scacchi Città di Gubbio in Umbria. The tournament brings together several rating groups and attracts players from different parts of Italy and abroad. A.S.D. Barcellona Scacchi has additionally organized major Sicilian events. These include editions of the Campionato Regionale Assoluto Siciliano, strengthening the club’s role within competitive chess across the region.

🌱 Junior Chess & Development

Youth chess is an important part of the association’s work. The club runs dedicated chess courses for children and teenagers at its Via Carducci headquarters, with training structured for different ages and levels. Its junior players regularly participate in provincial and regional championships. In the 2026 Messina Provincial Youth Championships, players representing A.S.D. Barcellona Scacchi won three provincial titles, demonstrating the continued development of the club’s younger members. The club also contributes to chess education in local schools. Giuseppe Zangla has worked as a chess expert within school projects in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, while the association has supported student chess championships and other educational initiatives. These activities provide young players with a pathway from introductory lessons to club competition, officially rated tournaments, and regional or national championship events.

🏅 History & Development

A.S.D. Barcellona Scacchi was created in 2021 through the initiative of the Zangla family and other local chess enthusiasts. Before the association was formally established, the group met informally to play and study chess together. Growth followed quickly. Within its first years, the club developed a substantial membership ranging from young children to senior players. It also established separate training opportunities according to playing strength and age. The association now combines local club life with an increasingly ambitious tournament program. Its activities include Italian team competition, youth development, school chess, regional championships, international festivals, and cooperation with other chess organizations. Through this combination of grassroots development and tournament organization, A.S.D. Barcellona Scacchi has become an active chess center in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto and the wider Messina area.