Marbella hosts the Spanish Absolute Chess Championship for the fourth consecutive year

Marbella will once again be at the center of national chess with the celebration, for the fourth consecutive year, of the Spanish National Championship, which will take place from December 11 to 19 at the Alanda Hotel. The city's Sports Councilor, Lisandro Vieytes, presented the event today alongside representatives from the Spanish, Andalusian, and Malaga federations, highlighting the "economic and media impact" it will have on the city. The councilor emphasized that for more than a week, "the country's best players, along with great international masters and young talents who represent the future of this discipline, will gather in the municipality."

"For Marbella, it is a real pride to host again the most important event in our country's calendar, an event that will decide the next champions of Spain and that will bring great masters and young talents representing the best of this discipline," Vieytes remarked, thanking the Spanish Chess Federation for "the trust placed in our city."

The event will feature the participation of David Antón, Spain's number one, Jaime Santos, and Alan Pichot, the current Ibero-American champion, and the reigning national champion, Sabrina Vega

The councilor noted that "for us, as a City Council, it is much more than a competition: it is culture, education, strategy, and effort, values that fully align with the sports identity of our municipality." He also stated that "we are convinced that it will be a success in terms of organization and promotion, as well as an opportunity for our youth to get closer to a sport that promotes concentration, decision-making, and critical thinking."

The event will feature figures such as David Antón, Spain's number one; Jaime Santos, and Alan Pichot, the current Ibero-American champion. In the women's category, the tournament will be led by the reigning champion of Spain, Sabrina Vega, along with Marta García, Mónica Calzetta, and Inés Prado. The youth elite will also be present, including the recent European U-18 champion, Diego Macías, and other international medalists. Locally, Marbella will be represented by Andrés Merario, Germán Maldonado, Kyran Rodríguez, Urtzi Buijs, Luis Felipe Jaime, and Miguel Sanjuán.

The event will be broadcast live with international coverage and will offer free entry for fans

Alongside the councilor, the presentation of the tournament was attended by the president of the Spanish Chess Federation, Javier Ochoa; his Andalusian counterpart, Javier Rubio; the championship director, Germán Maldonado, who highlighted Marbella's commitment to chess and to this event; and the top-ranked national player, Sara Hadem, who will not compete this year due to her participation in the Global Chess League in India, but who highlighted "the potential of Marbella as a venue for major tournaments."

The event will be broadcast live with international coverage and will offer free entry for fans. In addition, parallel activities aimed at schoolchildren and local clubs will be developed, including meetings with elite players and initiatives in public spaces where the City Council has installed new chess tables. Vieytes recalled that Marbella has hosted more than 130 sports events this year, "establishing itself as a leading city in the organization of national and international competitions."