5th International Chess Festival “City of Gubbio”
The 5th International Chess Festival “City of Gubbio” takes place from February 26 to 28, 2027 in the historic Umbrian city of Gubbio, Italy.
Organized by A.S.D. Barcellona Chess and the Eugubino Checkmate Chess Club, with the patronage of the Municipality of Gubbio, the festival features four FIDE-rated classical tournaments for different rating groups.
Players compete over five rounds at the Town Hall in Palazzo Pretorio, overlooking Piazza Grande. The festival offers a €3,200 prize fund (approximately $3,680), together with trophies, cups, books, local products and a special performance award.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Event | 5th International Chess Festival “City of Gubbio” |
| 📅 Dates | February 26–28, 2027 |
| 🌍 Country | Italy |
| 📍 City | Gubbio, Umbria |
| 🏛️ Venue | Town Hall – Aula Consiliare, Palazzo Pretorio |
| 👥 Organizers | A.S.D. Barcellona Chess & Eugubino Checkmate Chess Club |
| ♟️ Format | FIDE Swiss |
| 🔢 Rounds | 5 |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated |
| 🧩 Sections | Open A, Open B, Open C, Open D |
| 🏆 Prize Fund | €3,200 (approx. $3,680) |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
All four tournaments are played over five rounds using the FIDE Swiss system.
The time control is 90 minutes for the entire game plus a 30-second increment from move one.
A pairing bye scores ½ point.
The organizer may grant a maximum of two wild cards in each of Open A, Open B and Open C.
Players may arrive up to 60 minutes after the scheduled start of a round.
The official tiebreak order is:
- Buchholz Total
- Buchholz Cut 1
- Average Rating of Opponents (ARO)
🏆 Prize Fund
The official prize fund is €3,200, approximately $3,680, plus trophies, cups, books and local products.
Open A – Elo >1900
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €500 + Trophy |
| 2nd | €300 + Cup |
| 3rd | €200 + Cup |
| 4th | €100 + Cup |
| 5th | €100 + Cup |
| Best Elo 2100–2200 | €100 + Cup |
| Best Elo 2000–2099 | €100 + Cup |
| Best Elo 1900–1999 | €50 + Cup |
| Best U16 | €50 + Cup |
| Best Female | €50 + Cup |
Open B – Elo 1700–2000
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €300 + Trophy |
| 2nd | €200 + Cup |
| 3rd | €100 + Cup |
| Best Elo 1800–1900 | €50 + Cup |
| Best Elo 1700–1799 | €50 + Cup |
| Best Over 65 | €50 + Cup |
| Best Over 50 | Local-products basket |
| Best U16 | Cup + “Le Due Torri” book |
| Best Female | Cup + “Le Due Torri” book |
Open C – Elo 1500–1800
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €200 + Trophy |
| 2nd | €150 + Cup |
| 3rd | €100 + Cup |
| Best Elo 1600–1700 | €50 + Cup |
| Best Elo 1500–1599 | €50 + Cup |
| Best Over 65 | €50 + Cup |
| Best Over 50 | Local-products basket |
| Best U16 | Cup + “Le Due Torri” book |
| Best Female | Cup + “Le Due Torri” book |
Open D – Elo <1700
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €150 + Trophy |
| 2nd | €100 + Cup |
| 3rd | €50 + Cup |
| 4th | “Le Due Torri” book + local-products basket |
| Best Over 65 | “Le Due Torri” book + local-products basket |
| Best Over 50 | Local-products basket |
| Best U16, U14, U12, U10 and U8 | Cup |
| Best Female | Cup |
A special Best Tournament Performance Award is cumulative with other prizes and includes a Cup plus free entry to the Gubbio 2028 tournament.
Prizes are indivisible and generally non-cumulative. They are awarded only to players who are present at the awards ceremony.
Cash reimbursements are subject to applicable Italian tax withholding.
🧩 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Open A | FIDE Elo above 1900 |
| Open B | FIDE Elo 1700–2000 |
| Open C | FIDE Elo 1500–1800 |
| Open D | FIDE Elo below 1700 |
The rating ranges intentionally overlap between sections.
All four tournaments are valid for FIDE rating changes.
🗓️ Schedule
| When | Program |
|---|---|
| Friday, February 26 – 2:00–4:30 PM | Participant accreditation |
| Friday, February 26 – 5:00 PM | Round 1 |
| Saturday, February 27 – 9:00 AM | Round 2 |
| Saturday, February 27 – 4:00 PM | Round 3 |
| Sunday, February 28 – 9:00 AM | Round 4 |
| Sunday, February 28 – 3:00 PM | Round 5 |
| Sunday, February 28 – 7:00 PM | Awards ceremony |
📝 Registration
Pre-registration must be completed through VesuS by February 25, 2027.
Registration platform:
https://www.vesus.org/
| Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Open A | €70 |
| Open B | €65 |
| Open C | €65 |
| Open D | €60 |
| Women – all sections | €50 |
| Under 16 – Open A, B or C | €50 |
| Under 16 – Open D | €40 |
| GM and IM – Open A | Free |
The Under 16 rate applies to players born on or after January 1, 2011.
Players who have not pre-registered must pay an additional €10 surcharge.
Payment may be made by bank transfer to A.S.D. Barcellona Scacchi or directly at the playing venue.
Players must hold a valid 2027 FSI Agonistica or Juniores membership. Membership can also be arranged at the playing venue.
👤 Organizer
Organizer Names: A.S.D. Barcellona Chess & Eugubino Checkmate Chess Club
Contact Person: Giuseppe Zangla
Email: giuseppezangla@tiscali.it
Phone: +39 347 769 5966
Additional Contact: Francesco Zaccagni
Phone: +39 331 686 2267
Website:
https://www.gubbioscacchi.it/
📍 Venue
Town Hall – Aula Consiliare, Palazzo Pretorio – Piazza Grande 9, 06024 Gubbio (PG), Italy
The tournament is played in the historic centre of Gubbio, directly on Piazza Grande.
🏨 Accommodation
The organizers have arranged special tournament rates with several hotels in Gubbio. Guests should mention “Convenzione Torneo Scacchi” when booking.
| Hotel | Tournament Rate / Notes |
|---|---|
| Hotel Bosone Palace **** | About 100 m from the venue. From €42.50 per person in a double/twin room with breakfast; single-use double €70 |
| Hotel Relais Ducale **** | About 100 m from the venue. From €42.50 per person in a double/twin room with breakfast; single-use double €70 |
| Hotel San Marco Gubbio *** | About 250 m from the venue. Standard single €70 per room; double/twin €85 per room, including breakfast |
Hotel Bosone Palace ****
Address: Via XX Settembre 22, 06024 Gubbio (PG), Italy
Phone: +39 075 9220688
Email: info@hotelbosone.com
Website: https://www.hotelbosone.com/
The tournament agreement also includes half-board and full-board options. A fixed three-course menu with water is available for tournament guests staying at the hotel.
Hotel Relais Ducale ****
Address: Piazza Grande 5 / Via Galeotti 19, 06024 Gubbio (PG), Italy
Phone: +39 075 9220157
Email: info@relaisducale.com
Website: https://www.relaisducale.com/
Special rates include breakfast, half-board and full-board options. The hotel is approximately 100 metres from the playing venue.
Hotel San Marco Gubbio ***
Address: Via Campo di Marte 2, 06024 Gubbio (PG), Italy
Phone: +39 075 9220234
WhatsApp: +39 377 098 7776
Email: info@hotelsanmarcogubbio.com
Website: https://www.hotelsanmarcogubbio.com/
Tournament rates include breakfast. The hotel lists 55 rooms and is approximately 250 metres from the playing venue.
City tax is not included in the published hotel rates.
ℹ️ Other Information
Current FIDE anti-cheating regulations apply throughout the festival.
Electronic devices are prohibited in the playing area.
Registration for the tournament constitutes full acceptance of the regulations. The organizers reserve the right to make changes considered necessary for the successful running of the event.
Players and accompanying family members can also use a tournament restaurant agreement at Ristorante Pizzeria All’Antico Frantoio, Via Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour 18A, Gubbio.
The restaurant offers a 20% discount from the à la carte restaurant and pizzeria menu. Guests should mention the chess tournament agreement when ordering.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $3,680
Regulations -
Organizer
♟️ 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.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
