Friesen Lichtenberg

♟️ About SC Friesen-Lichtenberg e.V.

SC Friesen-Lichtenberg e.V. is a chess club based in Berlin-Lichtenberg, Germany. The club was founded on January 31, 1947, at the Ratskeller Lichtenberg and has remained part of the district’s chess community for almost eight decades. It is affiliated with the Berliner Schachverband and operates from its club premises at Stadion Friedrichsfelde, where regular club evenings and competitive activities take place. The club combines Berlin team competition, youth training, internal tournaments, lectures, practical training sessions, rapid and blitz chess, and social club activities. Its annual program includes the Club Championship, Cup Tournament, and monthly blitz series. Youth training is held on Fridays, while adult club activity continues later in the evening. However, SC Friesen-Lichtenberg is best known outside the district as the organizer of the Lichtenberger Sommer, one of Berlin’s established international open tournaments. Dr. Lutz Kühnemund serves as Chairman, with Marko Schmidt as Deputy Chairman. Luca Mankel is the club’s Tournament Director / Spielleiter and is explicitly identified by the club as its preferred communication contact. In 2026, Friesen-Lichtenberg continued its regular team and club program and organized the 22nd Lichtenberger Sommer from August 8–16, 2026. The tournament attracted 220 players, while Karl Gersemann won a remarkable competition ahead of International Master Emil Schmidek.

📜 History and Club Development

SC Friesen-Lichtenberg traces its foundation to January 31, 1947, when the club was established in Berlin’s Lichtenberg district. Over subsequent decades, it developed a strong local identity and maintained regular chess activity through different periods of Berlin’s history. Today, the club combines this tradition with an active calendar built around league chess, tournaments, training, and social events. Its official website also maintains a detailed club chronicle and a long-running news section, Friesen’s Neueste Nachrichten, which documents tournaments, player achievements, anniversaries, and club life. Several long-standing members remain closely connected with the Lichtenberger Sommer. In 2026, for example, Klaus Kapr and Uwe Sabrowski were recognized for having competed in every one of the tournament’s first 22 editions.

♜ Team Chess

SC Friesen-Lichtenberg participates extensively in the Berliner Mannschaftsmeisterschaft (BMM), Berlin’s main club team competition. For the 2026–2027 season, the Berliner Schachverband allocated the club’s first team to the Stadtliga. Friesen-Lichtenberg II and III are assigned to Klasse 1, while the fourth team is assigned to Klasse 3. This multi-team structure allows stronger players to compete at an advanced Berlin level while also providing opportunities for developing and recreational members. In addition, the club participates in other Berlin team and rapid competitions throughout the season.

🎓 Youth Chess and Training

Youth chess forms an established part of the club’s weekly schedule. Training takes place on Fridays from 16:00 to 18:00, before the main adult club evening. Andreas Mai serves as the club’s youth contact. Young Friesen players participate in Berlin junior events as well as club competition. In June 2026, for example, Amir Abed of SC Friesen Lichtenberg finished second in his section at the large Abrafaxe children’s tournament in Berlin. The club also provides structured activities for adult players. Its 2026 calendar included demonstration-board lectures, dynamic practical training, the Club Championship, Cup matches, and monthly blitz tournaments. Therefore, members can combine formal competition with regular opportunities to study and improve.

🌟 Lichtenberger Sommer

The Lichtenberger Sommer is SC Friesen-Lichtenberg’s flagship event and one of the established international open tournaments in Berlin. The series began in 2002 and has developed into an annual meeting point for players from Berlin, elsewhere in Germany, and abroad. The 22nd Lichtenberger Sommer took place from August 8–16, 2026 at the historic grandstand of the Pferdesportpark Berlin Karlshorst. The competition consisted of nine Swiss-system rounds and was rated for both FIDE Elo and German DWZ. The time control was 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder, with a 30-second increment from move one. Participation reached 220 players, ranging from children to senior competitors. The field included several titled players and represented another strong turnout after the 2025 tournament had attracted 240 participants from 19 nations. Karl Gersemann of TSG Oberschöneweide won the 2026 tournament with 7.5/9, finishing ahead of IM Emil Schmidek on tiebreak. Bao Anh Le Bui took third place with seven points. The result made Gersemann the youngest winner in the tournament’s history. The event also awarded rating and special-category prizes. Madiha Fock was the leading female player, while Mogens Thuesen received the senior prize. Marko Schmidt was listed as the tournament organizer, while Luca Mankel handled registration and participant communication.

🏛️ Organization and Club Life

The current club board is headed by Dr. Lutz Kühnemund, with Marko Schmidt serving as Deputy Chairman. Thomas Petry manages the club’s finances, while Luca Mankel oversees playing operations. Regular activities take place at Stadion Friedrichsfelde in Berlin-Lichtenberg. Friday is the principal club day, beginning with youth training and continuing with tournaments, lectures, training sessions, and open club evenings. This combination of local club life and a 200-plus-player international open gives SC Friesen-Lichtenberg a distinctive role in Berlin chess. The club remains rooted in its Lichtenberg community while welcoming players from across Germany and abroad through the Lichtenberger Sommer.