The 24th International Chess Festival in Rochefort, France, draws 388 players from 24 nationalities, surpassing last year's turnout of 340. Organized under the stone vaults of the convention center, the event features a mix of grandmasters and young talents in a family-friendly atmosphere. Philippe Giambiasi, president of Echiquier Rochefortais, highlights the growing participation and international diversity.
The festival, held in February 2026, creates a monastic atmosphere disturbed only by the movement of chess pieces. Players from regions like Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany, and Île-de-France form the core group, but international flags from Ukraine, Germany, China, Malaysia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Canada dot the corridors. "We have 24 nationalities represented," notes Giambiasi, who expresses relief at the smooth organization. "So far, everything is going very well."
Prominent participants include Ukrainian grandmasters Yuri Solodovnichenko and Igor Bogdanov. A standout is 8-year-old Kazakh beginner Sultan, who placed fourth in the youth tournament on his first visit to France. "He came to France for the first time, it’s impressive," comments Giambiasi. The tournament's Swiss system eliminates age barriers, pitting seniors over 60 against children as young as 10.
Youth dominate the scene, with a regular participant observing, "The young ones are sharp, they have no psychological barriers, they calculate quickly." Parents like Frédéric from Tresses, Gironde, support their children; he accompanies his 10-year-old son Victor for the third time, joking, "I play the role of logistician." A mother from Agen brings her 6-year-old son Adam.
The Nouvelle-Aquitaine League uses the event for performance training sessions targeting U8, U10, and U12 categories, supervised by trainers such as Siméon Pottier. These sessions, part of the Regional Performance Plan, occur three times yearly in Mont-de-Marsan, Rochefort, and Limoges to nurture young talents.
Gender parity remains a challenge, with Giambiasi acknowledging, "We have a lot fewer women." Only nine women compete in the master section, and 28 overall out of nearly 400 players. Strict anti-cheating rules apply, including immediate loss if a phone rings. Despite this, the festival emphasizes conviviality post-match, fostering a welcoming environment.