Kodokan

♟️ About A.S.D. Kodokan

A.S.D. Kodokan, officially registered with the Italian Chess Federation as Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Polifunzionale Polisportiva Kodokan, is an established chess organization based in Messina, Sicily, Italy. The association has been active in Messina chess for more than two decades and has developed a broad program covering competitive chess, junior development, tournament organization, training, and community activities. The club places particular emphasis on developing young players. Over the years, Kodokan juniors have competed successfully at regional and national level, while several players who developed through the club have progressed into strong Italian team competitions. At the same time, the association welcomes adult players and supports chess education for different age groups. Giuseppe Iannello serves as President of A.S.D. Kodokan and is the principal public contact for the club. He is closely involved in tournament organization and the club’s competitive activities in Messina and across Sicily.

🏆 Tournaments & Chess Activities

A.S.D. Kodokan organizes one of Messina’s longest-running chess competitions, the Kodokan – Città di Messina – Porta della Sicilia tournament series. The event reached its 18th edition in 2026 and has developed from a local competition into an established FIDE-rated tournament. The 18th Kodokan – Città di Messina – Porta della Sicilia 2026 takes place from November 27–29 at Liceo Emilio Ainis in Messina. It consists of three FIDE-rated sections and five rounds of classical chess, allowing players across several rating levels to compete. A particularly ambitious edition took place in January 2023, when Kodokan organized the XV International Chess Festival at Capo Peloro. More than 120 players from over 20 countries participated, including Grandmasters and International Masters. The event combined competitive chess with cultural and tourism activities designed to introduce visiting players to Messina. The club also collaborates with other local organizations on rapid tournaments and community events. In 2026, for example, Kodokan again supported the Città di Pagliara rapid tournament, continuing a partnership that brings competitive chess to municipalities around the Messina area.

🌱 Junior Chess & Education

Junior development has been central to Kodokan’s identity for many years. The club operates a chess school and has helped young players progress from introductory training into regional championships, national youth events, and team competitions. One of the club’s notable former juniors is Andrea Favaloro, who became Italian Under-18 Champion in 2015 after developing through the Kodokan youth program. The club has also produced other successful junior competitors and has regularly entered players in Sicilian and Italian youth championships. Kodokan continues to support chess education beyond its own membership. In 2026, club members Antonino Mazzaglia and Alessio Di Leo delivered a free chess course for students at the University of Messina, introducing participants to the rules, strategy, and practical play. This combination of junior coaching, educational outreach, and regular competition has allowed the association to maintain a strong development pathway for new players in Messina.

🥇 Team Chess & Achievements

Kodokan has a significant history in the Campionato Italiano a Squadre, Italy’s national team championship system. Its teams have progressed through several divisions and have represented Messina at high levels of Italian club chess. In 2016, a young Kodokan team won promotion to Serie A2 after defeating Accademia Scacchi Potenza in a promotion playoff. Several members of that squad had developed together through the club’s junior program. The club later competed for several seasons in Serie A1. In the 2025 Italian Team Championship, Kodokan Messina won its Serie A1 group and secured promotion to the Serie Master for 2026, the highest division of Italian team chess. Alongside its strongest team, Kodokan fields additional squads in other national divisions. This allows players of different strengths and ages to gain experience in organized team competition while representing the club.

📚 History & Development

A.S.D. Kodokan has operated in the Messina chess community for more than twenty years. During that period, it has combined youth development with increasingly ambitious competitive and organizational projects. The growth of the Città di Messina – Porta della Sicilia tournament reflects this development. Successive editions have attracted players from across Italy and abroad, while cooperation with the Municipality of Messina and regional chess organizations has helped raise the profile of chess in the city. Today, Kodokan combines grassroots chess, youth instruction, international tournaments, educational projects, and elite team competition. Its activities make it one of the established chess organizations in Messina and an active participant in Sicilian and Italian chess.