Paul Morphy Chess Club

♟️ About A.S.D. Paul Morphy Chess Club Liv.F.

A.S.D. Paul Morphy Chess Club Liv.F. (PMCC) is a chess club based in Livorno Ferraris, Piedmont, Italy, in the province of Vercelli. The club is affiliated with the Italian Chess Federation and operates from permanent premises on Via Martiri della Libertà. It provides a local base for competitive and recreational chess, internal tournaments, training, analysis, beginner instruction, and participation in official Italian team competition. PMCC maintains regular club sessions on Tuesday and Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Members can take part in social tournaments, collective analysis, training evenings, and instructional activities. In addition, the club has developed an increasingly active public tournament calendar. Its 2026 program includes the Memorial Galileo Ferraris, Trofeo Mantho in Viverone, the monthly Gran Prix del Sabato series, and its first FIDE-rated classical weekend tournament. Sandro Mambrin is the current President of Paul Morphy Chess Club and its principal public contact. He was elected President by the club membership in September 2025 and also serves as the responsible representative of its Italian Team Chess Championship squad. During 2026, PMCC achieved promotion to Serie C and expanded its tournament program. Its next major event is the 1° Weekend Paul Morphy – Coppa Bianco d’Oro, scheduled for October 23–25, 2026, in Santhià.

🎓 Club Life and Chess Development

Paul Morphy Chess Club aims to combine competitive chess with an accessible community environment. Its permanent clubroom allows members to meet several times each week rather than limiting activity to occasional tournaments. Regular activities include friendly games, internal competitions, collective game analysis, training sessions, and lessons aimed at beginners. Therefore, newer players can develop within the same environment used by members preparing for federation-rated tournaments and team matches. The club also operates an annual membership system that gives members access to internal tournaments and special activities. Its stated values emphasize fair play, collaboration, social inclusion, and chess as both an educational and social activity.

♜ Italian Team Chess

Team competition has become an important part of PMCC’s recent development. The club entered the 2026 Campionato Italiano a Squadre (CIS) with a squad led administratively by Sandro Mambrin. The registered team included Gianmario Avetta, Giovanni Madurini, Giorgio Grangia, Andrea Grisafi, Andrea Gianuzzo, Orlando Terracciano, Gianni Zannoni, Samuele Soldi, Pietro Stracuzzi, Luca Canepa, and Sandro Mambrin. The 2026 campaign ended with promotion to Serie C, marking an important competitive step for the club. The result gives PMCC players the opportunity to compete at a higher level within Italy’s national team structure.

🏆 2026 Tournament Activity

PMCC’s 2026 public tournament calendar began with the 1° Torneo Rapid Livorno Ferraris – Memorial Galileo Ferraris on May 24. The nine-round rapid tournament used a 12+3 time control. Alessandro Gasparetto won the inaugural edition, ahead of Marco Ubezio and Stefano Laurenti. The club followed with the 2° Torneo Rapid Viverone – Trofeo Mantho on July 12. Emiliano Aranovitch finished first, Mauro Tirelli took second, and Simone Enrico Migliorisi placed third. Mattia Mancuso received the best U18 award. In parallel, PMCC runs the Gran Prix del Sabato, a monthly seven-round rapid series generally held on the final Saturday of each month. Each stage awards points toward an overall season classification, providing members and visiting players with recurring competitive opportunities.

🌟 1° Weekend Paul Morphy – Coppa Bianco d’Oro

The club’s most significant new classical project is the 1° Weekend Paul Morphy – Coppa Bianco d’Oro, scheduled for October 23–25, 2026, at Centro Polivalente Spazio Eventi in Santhià. The tournament will consist of five Swiss-system rounds with a classical time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move and will count for FIDE Standard rating. Competition is divided into two sections: Torneo A for stronger players and Torneo B for players below the published rating threshold. The event has a maximum capacity of approximately 80 participants and offers a published prize fund of €1,550. This event represents an expansion from the club’s established rapid program into multi-day FIDE-rated classical tournament organization.

🏛️ Organization and Leadership

The club elected a new board on September 19, 2025. Sandro Mambrin serves as President and Treasurer, while Orlando Terracciano serves as Vice President and Secretary. The board also includes Gianmario Avetta, Andrea Gianuzzo, and Gianni Zannoni. Mambrin remains the principal contact for federation, tournament, and general club matters.