XXXI Festival “Città di Palermo” – Memorial Baldassare Antonino Camarda
XXXI Festival “Città di Palermo” – Memorial Baldassare Antonino Camarda takes place on September 17–20, 2026, in Palermo, Italy. The event offers three classical sections at Addaura Village, close to the Mondello seaside area.
This is a chess tournament in Palermo, Italy, in 2026. Players can compete in a FIDE-rated chess tournament with Open A, Open B, and Open C sections based on Elo rating.
The tournament has a compact four-day schedule, a 7-round Swiss format, and a confirmed prize fund of more than €3,000. In addition, the seaside playing venue gives players a practical setting for a September chess weekend in Sicily.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | XXXI Festival “Città di Palermo” – Memorial Baldassare Antonino Camarda |
| 📅 Dates | September 17–20, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Palermo, Italy |
| 🏛️ Venue | Addaura Village, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4452, Addaura/Mondello, Palermo, Italy |
| ♟️ Format | Classical Swiss tournament with three sections |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated |
| 🔢 Rounds | 7 rounds |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| 💰 Prize fund | More than €3,000 gross, approximately $3,510 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The XXXI Festival “Città di Palermo” uses a Swiss pairing system. Open A, Open B, and Open C each run over 7 rounds.
Each player receives 90 minutes for the game, plus a 30-second increment from move one. Therefore, the event gives players a serious classical chess tournament with standard rated-game conditions.
The default time is 30 minutes. A player who arrives later than the allowed delay time loses the game.
Tie-breaks follow this order: REP, Buchholz Total, Buchholz Cut 1, and Average Rating of Opponents.
💰 Prize Fund
The confirmed gross cash prize fund is more than €3,000, approximately $3,510. Prizes are not cumulative and not divisible.
Open A Prizes
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €600 + Cup |
| 2nd place | €450 + Cup |
| 3rd place | €350 + Cup |
| 4th place | €200 |
| 5th place | €100 |
| Best player under 2000 Elo | €80 + Cup |
Open B Prizes
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €300 + Cup |
| 2nd place | €200 + Cup |
| 3rd place | €100 + Cup |
| 4th place | €80 |
| 5th place | €60 |
| Best player under 1700 Elo | €60 + Cup |
| Best U16 player | €60 + Cup |
Open C Prizes
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €150 + Cup |
| 2nd place | €100 + Cup |
| 3rd place | €70 + Cup |
| 4th place | €60 |
| 5th place | €50 |
Non-Cash Awards
| Category | Awards |
|---|---|
| Best U16 player | Cup in Open A and Open C |
| Best player aged over 60 | Basket of typical products |
| Best female player | Cup in Open A, Open B, and Open C |
| Best U12 player | Cup in Open B and Open C |
| Best U10 player | Cup in Open C |
During the award ceremony, the Camarda family will also present special memorial awards connected with the event nominations.
🧩 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility | Entry fee |
|---|---|---|
| Open A | Players rated above 1900 Elo | €70 |
| Open B | Players rated 1600–2000 Elo | €60 |
| Open C | Players rated below 1600 Elo | €50 |
FIDE-titled players receive free entry. Italian players need valid FSI competitive or junior membership for 2026.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 14:00 | Accreditation opens |
| Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 15:00 | Accreditation closes |
| Thursday, September 17, 2026 | After accreditation | Round 1 |
| Friday, September 18, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 2 |
| Friday, September 18, 2026 | 15:30 | Round 3 |
| Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 4 |
| Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 15:30 | Round 5 |
| Sunday, September 20, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 6 |
| Sunday, September 20, 2026 | 15:30 | Round 7 |
| Sunday, September 20, 2026 | After Round 7 | Award ceremony |
📝 Registration
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pre-registration deadline | September 13, 2026 |
| Open A entry fee | €70 |
| Open B entry fee | €60 |
| Open C entry fee | €50 |
| Late registration surcharge | €10 after September 13, 2026 |
| Free entry | FIDE-titled players |
| Payment recipient | A.S.D. Palermo Scacchi |
| IBAN | IT74W0623004603000015161459 |
| Registration platform | https://vesus.org/tournament/MltzJOBg |
Pre-registration on Vesus is mandatory. Players who register after September 13, 2026 pay the additional €10 surcharge.
🏛️ Organizer
A.S.D. Palermo Scacchi organizes the XXXI Festival “Città di Palermo” – Memorial Baldassare Antonino Camarda. The club brings players to Palermo for a structured rated chess weekend with three sections, cash prizes, memorial awards, and a seaside tournament venue.
Email: info@palermoscacchi.it
Phone: +39 320 443 6117
📍 Venue
Addaura Village, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4452, Addaura/Mondello, Palermo, Italy
The tournament takes place at Addaura Village, near the Addaura and Mondello coastal area of Palermo. Players should use the full Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo address for navigation and arrive early enough for the Thursday accreditation period.
🏨 Accommodation
Addaura Village
The playing venue also offers accommodation services. Players can contact the hotel directly for room options and availability during the tournament dates.
Hotel email: hotel@addaura.it
Hotel phone / WhatsApp: +39 091 684 2222
Hotel website: www.addaura.it
🚆 How to Get There
Players should use Addaura Village, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4452, Addaura/Mondello, Palermo, as the main navigation address.
Palermo can be reached by air, rail, ferry, regional transport, or car. After arriving in the city, players can continue toward Addaura and Mondello by taxi, local transport, or private transfer.
ℹ️ Other Information
All cash prizes are gross amounts and follow the applicable tax rules.
Players may use the pairing-allocated draw rule under the listed tournament regulation. In addition, all matters not covered in the tournament notice follow the applicable FSI and FIDE rules.
By entering the event, players accept the publication of tournament photos, reports, standings, and other event information through traditional and online communication channels.
The XXXI Festival “Città di Palermo” offers a strong Sicilian chess weekend with rated games, prizes, and a memorable seaside setting near Mondello.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $3,510
Organizer
♟️ Club Identity
A.S.D. Palermo Scacchi is a chess association and chess school in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The club operates from Via Leonardo Da Vinci 17 and gives local players a regular base for lessons, free play, tournament preparation, and competitive chess. Its current identity began in 2021, while the association’s earlier chess activity goes back to 2003 under the name Alfiere di Re. In addition, the club developed through the Centro Scacchi Palermo experience, which helped build one of the most active chess communities in Sicily. Today, Palermo Scacchi welcomes children, adults, beginners, club players, and ambitious competitors. Its program combines daily club life, qualified instruction, a technical chess library, and regular over-the-board events in one central Palermo venue.
🏆 Tournament Activity
A.S.D. Palermo Scacchi organizes the Festival Città di Palermo – Memorial Baldassare Antonino Camarda, a historic international chess festival in Sicily. The 2026 edition is the XXXI festival and takes place at Addaura Village, near the Mondello seaside area. The event includes Open A, Open B, and Open C sections, with seven rounds and classical FIDE-rated play. The club also runs frequent local tournaments at its Palermo venue, including rapid, blitz, weekend, and Grand Prix events. Moreover, Palermo Scacchi competes strongly in Italian team chess and youth team competitions. Its recent activity includes major results in national junior team championships, women’s team chess, regional events, and Sicilian competitions. Therefore, players can find both regular local chess and high-level competitive pathways through the same organizer.
🌱 Chess School and Youth Development
A.S.D. Palermo Scacchi supports youth chess, adult training, and community development through a structured chess school for different ages and levels. Its courses include U16 beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups, as well as adult courses for new and improving players. Qualified CONI and Italian Chess Federation instructors lead the training activity, while members can also use the club for friendly games and independent study. The club has built a strong reputation for youth work, with many young players involved in regional, national, and international competition. In addition, Palermo Scacchi promotes chess as a tool for education, social growth, and careful thinking. This approach helps families introduce children to chess in a serious but welcoming environment. As a result, the club plays an important role in Palermo’s chess life and in the broader Sicilian chess scene.
Venue on the Map
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