The clever interplay of its historical title as the City of Los Adelantados and the societal advancement linked to the practice and promotion of chess among the populace is exemplified by the remarkable La Laguna International Chess Festival, which saw its sixth edition conclude last weekend at the venerable site of old Santo Domingo.
This festival has unequivocally demonstrated its full establishment this year, with a notable success in terms of both attendance and competition quality. The principal tournament showcased the high calibre of its participants, who shattered previous records, drawing nearly 200 entrants from 22 distinct nations (chess is one of the most widely played sports globally), including over fifty titled players.
If these statistics spotlight the remarkable organisation executed by the La Laguna Ebony Chess Sports Club, we must also recognise the outstanding achievement of the Icelandic Grand Master (GM) Watch Vatnar Stefansson, who clinched first place in the final rankings with 7.5 points from a possible nine, following an unforgettable closing round in which he defeated fellow GM Merab Gagunashvili from Georgia.
However, this does not diminish the noteworthy performance of the young Argentine player based in La Palma, Francisco Fiorito, who secured an impressive third-place finish. At only 14 years and 16 days old, he made history in this tournament by achieving the third and final norm required to become an International Master (IM).
Francisco Fiorito continues to demonstrate outstanding development in his chess ability, undoubtedly aided by his family’s relocation to La Palma, where he appears to have discovered the ideal environment for both athletic and personal growth. The significance of his achievement has recently been covered by numerous media outlets in his homeland.
Another prominent figure from this year’s event is the reigning Canadian champion, FIDE Master (FM) Mike Ivanov, who finished in second place despite being seeded nineteenth, showcasing his skill in the game that will likely earn him an IM title soon.
From a local perspective, there is further good news beyond the Fiorito story; Daniel Gómez Mederos from Laguna—a promising young talent from the island’s Sport-Science—is worth mentioning for winning the category for players with an Elo rating below 1900 (a rating system designed to assess chess players’ strength, created by Hungarian Arpad Elo). This victory serves as a testament to the excellent training offered by the club to which Gómez Mederos belongs.
It is essential to acknowledge that the entire International Festival of San Cristóbal de La Laguna in Tenerife has been filled with excitement and has been made possible through the commendable and vital backing of the Autonomous Sports Body of the La Laguna City Council, alongside the General Directorate of the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Tenerife, as well as contributions from the Canary Islands and Tenerife Chess Federations.
Events like this enable La Laguna to solidify its position as a cultural and social beacon within the Island, primarily through Chess, whose advantages extend well beyond the sporting realm, positively influencing areas as varied as Education, Mental Health, and the reintegration of offenders.
