Hay Chess

♟️ About Hay Chess

Hay Chess is a French chess club based in Allauch, near Marseille, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department. Founded in 2016, the club welcomes children, adults, beginners, recreational players, and experienced competitors. Its activities combine chess lessons, youth development, national team competition, rated tournaments, training camps, and community chess. The club has grown rapidly since its creation and now maintains a substantial competitive structure. Its leading adult team earned promotion to Nationale 1 for the 2026–2027 season, while Hay Chess also fields additional adult teams, a strong youth team, and a women’s team. Tournament organization is another major part of the club’s identity, particularly through its annual May rapid tournament and the International Chess Festival of Allauch.

🎓 Youth Chess and Training

Youth development has been central to Hay Chess from the beginning. The club provides instruction for beginners and improving players, with younger members able to progress from introductory lessons into departmental, regional, and national competition. Hay Chess also organizes intensive training programs and chess camps. These activities combine lessons, tournament preparation, practical games, and post-game analysis. The club’s strongest junior team competes at national level, giving ambitious young players a clear pathway from training into serious team chess.

♜ Team Chess

Hay Chess has progressed quickly through the French Interclubs system. During the 2025–2026 season, its first adult team competed in Nationale 2 and achieved promotion to Nationale 1 for the following season. The club also maintains teams in lower national divisions, allowing players of different strengths to participate in official competition. Youth and women’s team chess are also part of the program, with Hay Chess represented in national-level competitions.

⚡ Tournoi Rapide du 1er Mai d’Allauch

The annual May 1 Rapid Tournament of Allauch is one of Hay Chess’s longest-running events. The tournament began in 2017, when its inaugural edition attracted 175 players and immediately established itself as a significant rapid competition in the Marseille area. The 2026 edition took place on May 1 at Espace Robert Ollive in Allauch. The main competition consisted of nine FIDE-rated rapid rounds at 15 minutes plus a 3-second increment per move. A separate youth competition provided additional opportunities for younger players. The tournament remains one of the club’s principal annual public events.

🌍 International Chess Festival of Allauch

The Festival International d’Échecs d’Allauch is Hay Chess’s flagship classical tournament. Launched in 2019, the festival has developed into a recurring summer event attracting club players, strong juniors, titled players, and international participants. The 8th International Chess Festival of Allauch takes place from August 23–29, 2026. The festival includes two FIDE-rated classical sections:

• Festival A – primarily for players rated 1700 and above
• Festival B – primarily for players rated below 1800

Both competitions are played over nine Swiss rounds using a classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The festival also includes training opportunities for younger players, allowing participants to combine tournament play with structured chess instruction.

🤝 Community Chess

Hay Chess maintains a strong connection with the local community in Allauch and the surrounding Marseille area. The club works with local institutions and supports chess activities for children, adults, families, and players with different levels of experience. Its rapid tournaments, training programs, team competitions, and international festival provide several different ways to participate in organized chess. This combination of grassroots development and competitive ambition has allowed Hay Chess to progress from a newly founded local association in 2016 to a club preparing to compete in Nationale 1 only ten years later.

🏛️ Organization and Leadership

Pierre Boghossian is the current President and principal public contact of Hay Chess. He is directly involved in club administration, tournament organization, and the development of the club’s competitive program. Boghossian is also an experienced French chess arbiter and regularly serves as organizer or tournament official at Hay Chess events.