XII Sunway Sitges International Chess Festival 2025
The Sunway Sitges International Chess Festival 2025 celebrates its 12th edition as one of Europe’s most famous and scenic chess festivals.
Held in the beautiful coastal town of Sitges, Spain, near Barcelona, the event combines world-class chess competition with Mediterranean charm, hospitality, and unforgettable experiences.
Organized by Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa Sitges, this festival attracts hundreds of players from all over the world — from grandmasters to amateurs — for two weeks of classical, rapid, and blitz chess in a luxurious seaside setting.
🗓️ Event Details
| 📅 Dates | 12–23 December 2025 |
| 📍 Location | Sitges, Barcelona, Spain |
| 🏟️ Venue | Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa Sitges |
| 💰 Prize Fund | €25,000 total |
| 🏁 Tournament Type | International Open • FIDE rated |
| 🧩 Tournament System | Swiss system |
| 🔢 Number of Rounds | 10 |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment |
| ⏰ Default Time | 30 minutes |
| 📆 Registration Deadline | 6 December 2025 |
| 👥 Maximum Players | Based on capacity (300+ expected) |
| 🏢 Organizer | Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa Sitges |
| ☎️ Phone | +34 93 811 11 00 |
| ✉️ Email | info@sunwaychessfestival.com |
| 🔗 Official Website | www.sunwaychessfestival.com |
💰 Prize Fund & Breakdown
| Category | Prizes (€) |
|---|---|
| 1st place (Open A) | 5,000 |
| 2nd place | 3,000 |
| 3rd place | 2,000 |
| 4th–10th places | 1,500–400 |
| Best Female | 400 |
| Best U18 / U16 | 300 |
| Best Senior (50+) | 300 |
| Best Local Player | 200 |
| Blitz / Rapid Events | Separate prize funds announced onsite |
⏳ Time Control & Tournament System
- System: 10-round Swiss
- Rated: FIDE Classical
- Time Control: 90 min + 30 sec increment from move 1
- Tiebreaks: Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger, number of wins
♟️ Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility / Notes |
|---|---|
| Open A | Players with FIDE rating ≥2000 |
| Open B | Players with FIDE rating <2000 |
| Blitz / Rapid | Separate open tournaments during the festival |
| Simuls / Team Events | Held on rest days, open to all participants |
🕐 Schedule
| Date | Event / Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Dec | Arrival & Registration | All day |
| 12 Dec | Round 1 | 16:00 |
| 13–21 Dec | Rounds 2–9 | 16:00 daily |
| 17 Dec | Rest Day / Blitz / Simuls | All day |
| 22 Dec | Round 10 & Closing Ceremony | 15:00 |
| 23 Dec | Departure | — |
📝 Registration
- Registration via the official website
- Entry fee:
- GM, IM, WGM, WIM – Free
- Other players: €80 (Open A) / €60 (Open B)
- Discounts for students and early entries
- Payments can be made online or at the venue before Round 1
- Deadline: 6 December 2025
🏢 Organizer
Organized by Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa Sitges, known for its exceptional hospitality and professional event management.
The Sunway Sitges Chess Festival is supported by the Catalan Chess Federation and FIDE.
- Email: info@sunwaychessfestival.com
- Phone: +34 93 811 11 00
- Website: www.sunwaychessfestival.com
🏛 Venue
Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa Sitges
Paseo Marítimo 92–94, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain
📍 Google Maps
🏨 Accommodation
Participants are encouraged to stay at the official venue hotel.
Packages include breakfast, Wi-Fi, and access to the hotel’s gym and swimming pool.
Discounted rates are available for players and families through the official website.
🚆 How to Get There
- By Air: Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) → 25 minutes by car
- By Train: RENFE trains from Barcelona Sants → Sitges Station
- By Car: C-32 motorway → Sitges exit
Join the XII Sunway Sitges International Chess Festival 2025 and play chess by the sea — where sun, strategy, and sportsmanship meet under the Spanish sun!
Organizer
The Catalan Chess Federation (Federació Catalana d’Escacs) is the regional governing body for chess in Catalonia. It was founded on 2 August 1925 as a public-interest sports institution dedicated to promoting and coordinating chess across the region. From its headquarters in Barcelona, the federation serves as a central hub for tournaments, regulations and communication with clubs.
Today, the federation runs a full calendar of events at all levels. It organises Catalan team leagues, individual championships and youth tournaments in classical, rapid and blitz formats, often in partnership with local clubs and city councils. Moreover, it maintains structures for arbiters, competition rules and rating management, so that chess activity in Catalonia follows consistent, modern standards. As a result, players from beginner level to titled professionals can find regular, well-run events throughout the year.
In recent years, the Catalan Chess Federation has also modernised its communication and image. It shares news, live games and video content through its website and active social channels, including streaming of major championships and centenary projects around 2025. Furthermore, this digital presence strengthens its role as both a sports federation and a cultural reference point for chess in Catalonia.
Address: Carrer de Sant Adrià, 20, 08030 Barcelona, Spain
Email: federacio@escacs.cat
Phone: +34 93 318 59 26
Phone 2: +34 93 318 57 89
Website: https://escacs.cat
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/escacs.cat/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escacs_cat/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/escacs_cat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEXZHU4eqeOTSWuYpnttqA