Federação Catarinense de Xadrez – FCX

♟️ About Federação Catarinense de Xadrez - FCX

The Federação Catarinense de Xadrez (FCX) is the official state chess federation for Santa Catarina, Brazil. Based in Florianópolis, the federation coordinates organized chess throughout the state and works within the Brazilian chess structure to support clubs, players, arbiters, organizers, and competitive events. FCX has operated since 1974 and has developed a broad program covering state championships, youth competition, FIDE-rated tournaments, national events hosted in Santa Catarina, and player development. Its activities include Standard, Rapid, and Blitz chess as well as age-group, amateur, women’s, and rating-restricted competitions. The federation is currently led by Marlon Cristiano Rahn, who serves as President. Rahn is also an active tournament organizer, National Arbiter, chess coach, and competitive player. He regularly directs FCX events and has been involved in the organization of major national and international tournaments held in Santa Catarina.

🏆 Tournaments & Chess Activities

FCX maintains a substantial annual tournament program across Santa Catarina. Its responsibilities include state championships and competitions registered for both CBX national rating and FIDE international rating, while the federation also works with local clubs and organizers to develop events in cities throughout the state. The calendar covers classical chess as well as Rapid and Blitz. State championships provide competitive pathways for leading Santa Catarina players, while rating-restricted IRT events give developing players opportunities to compete against opponents of similar strength and improve their FIDE ratings. In 2026, FCX has also played a prominent role in hosting Brazilian national youth competitions. The FENAC and Juvenil Ímpar 2026 program in Florianópolis included Brazilian championships across several junior age categories. FCX was listed as the official organizer, with Marlon Rahn serving as Event Director. These competitions operate alongside a wider network of tournaments in Santa Catarina. FCX supports events in Florianópolis, Timbó, Blumenau, São Bento do Sul, and other chess centers, helping create a regular flow of rated competition across the state.

🌱 Junior Chess & Development

Youth chess is a major component of the federation’s work. FCX organizes and supports age-group championships from the youngest categories through the junior levels, providing players with a pathway from local events to state and Brazilian national competition. Santa Catarina regularly hosts national youth events under the CBX calendar. The 2026 FENAC and Juvenil tournaments in Florianópolis included Standard, Rapid, and Blitz competitions for several age groups, allowing young players to compete for national titles while gaining FIDE-rated experience. FCX also works with municipal programs, chess schools, clubs, and coaches throughout the state. This decentralized structure is important in Santa Catarina, where competitive chess is active not only in Florianópolis but also in cities such as Timbó, Blumenau, Joinville, Rio do Sul, and São Bento do Sul. Marlon Rahn’s work also reflects this emphasis on development. In addition to federation management, he has been involved in chess coaching and youth programs, including technical work with municipal chess teams in Santa Catarina.

🌍 Floripa IRT Rating Series 2026

The Floripa IRT Rating Series 2026 – U1700 / U2000 / U2400 is one of FCX’s major November events. The competitions take place in Florianópolis from November 6–8, 2026, alongside the Brazilian Women’s Chess Championship program. Three independent FIDE-rated classical tournaments are offered: IRT U2400, IRT U2000, and IRT U1700. Each competition consists of six Swiss rounds played at 60 minutes plus 30 seconds increment per move. Together, the tournaments offer R$9,000 in cash prizes, in addition to trophies and medals for overall, youth, and senior categories. FCX is registered as organizer for all three tournaments. NA Marlon Cristiano Rahn serves as Tournament Director, while IA Elana Silva de Souza is Chief Arbiter. The events are valid for both CBX and FIDE rating. The rating-group format provides an accessible progression structure. Lower-rated players can compete in the U1700 section, stronger developing players in U2000, and advanced competitors in U2400. Therefore, participants can play six classical rated games within a field adapted to their current competitive level.

📚 History & Development

Public registration records date the Federação Catarinense de Xadrez to July 1974, giving the organization more than five decades of activity in Santa Catarina chess. During that period, the federation has developed from a traditional state governing body into an organization that supports a diverse modern tournament calendar. Its current program combines established state championships with FIDE-rated IRT tournaments, youth festivals, national championships, and cooperation with larger chess projects based in Santa Catarina. Florianópolis has become an especially important center for this activity. FCX frequently cooperates with the Brazilian Chess Confederation and independent organizers when national or international tournaments are held in the state. At the same time, the federation continues to support competitions organized by local chess communities throughout Santa Catarina. The Floripa IRT Rating Series demonstrates this current approach: internationally rated competition, multiple rating groups, junior and senior awards, and close integration with other major championship events taking place in the same city.