The magic of the Sants International Chess Open returns

Before summer enters its final stretch, the city celebrates some of the most anticipated events of the year, such as the Gràcia and Sants festivals. Framed within this festive context, Les Cotxeres de Sants hosts every year during the last fortnight of August, one of the most important events within the Catalan chess circuit, the Sants-Ciutat de Barcelona International Chess Open. This year, the event brings together more than half a thousand players from all corners of the world ready to win.

This tournament celebrates its 24th edition these days and the second since it is also the Ciutat de Barcelona Trophy. It only paused its journey in 2020 and this year it hopes to recover pre-pandemic participation figures, with its record being 746 players, a figure achieved during the 2019 edition.

Entering the main playing hall, located in the Cotxeres auditorium, is impressive. From the ceiling hang all the flags of the world, greetings and handshakes are repeated before the boards that, with their small armies of pieces well aligned before the battle, await their turn. On the left, in the stands area, the games of the upper part of the ranking are played, but one should not be fooled, surprises happen where one least expects them, as masters and future masters mix among the crowd.

Before the clocks start and a silent tension invades the atmosphere, we converse and share experiences with David Ayza, general secretary of the Federació Catalana d'Escacs and co-organizer of the championship, about how one of the most important championships in the country is experienced.

--- How did this open originate?

--- This tournament was born in 1999 from an initiative of the then president of the Catalunya Ajedrez Club and current co-director of the tournament, Alex Sulleva, who proposed to the management of Les Cotxeres de Sants the realization of an international chess tournament in summer. The management of Les Cotxeres, with Toni Ayza at the helm, thought it was a good idea and bet on what, years later, would be the largest Chess Open in Spain. Thus, we can say that these two have been the almas pater of this tournament.

--- Can we therefore consider it the most important championship within the Catalan chess circuit? You said it is the largest Open in Spain, which is easily said.

--- Indeed. The Sants-Ciutat de Barcelona International Open is not only the most important Open within the Catalan Chess Circuit, as you rightly point out, but, at a national level, it is the largest in terms of number of players and one of the five most powerful in Europe. Both in number of participants, close to 600 in this 2023 edition, and in number of international title holders. We have more than 15 grandmasters and 100 international title holders.

--- For the uninitiated, it's like having great sports figures against whom you can compete.

--- Exactly. It's your performance during the tournament and the draw after each game that decide.

"The Sants International Open is the most important Open at both Catalan and national levels, as well as one of the five most powerful in Europe"

--- The maximum number of registered participants was achieved in 2019, with a total of 746 players.

--- That's something! Why do you think this tournament is so attractive, ahead of others also played in the territory?

--- Factors such as, for example, Barcelona always being a pleasant tourist option to combine chess and holidays, help attract players from all over the world, who also see the tournament as a very good option to try to achieve international master and grandmaster norms, thanks to the high level of the participating players. We also try to make the organization of this championship coincide each year with the Sants festivities to give both players and their families the possibility of an extra leisure activity in the city and to disconnect from the long chess games.

"We try to make the championship coincide with the Sants festivities to offer the possibility of an extra leisure activity in the city"

--- I believe the success of the tournament lies in the treatment given to the player, the true protagonist. The games are played in a comfortable space, we gift participants with the t-shirt and pen of each edition, and we address every possible problem, all supported by a professional organization. It is, probably, the only tournament on the Catalan Circuit that has professional administrative staff behind it ---that of Cotxeres-Casinet and that of the Federació Catalana d'Escacs--- who can dedicate part of their workday to the organization of the tournament.

--- It's true, I'm one of those who collects t-shirts. But I'm missing the 2020 one. I imagine that, like everyone else, the pandemic also affected you. What has it been like to return to normality?

--- Unfortunately, the pandemic has affected us all and the Sants Open has been no exception. During that period, registrations dropped considerably, but, little by little, we are returning to pre-pandemic numbers. For example, this year, we have more than 600 players, a figure that brings us closer to our record of 746 participants, which we will surely end up surpassing in future editions.

--- As a spectator and player's companion, it is very gratifying to see familiar faces year after year who reunite at this tournament and only at this tournament. How do you experience it as organizers?

--- It is always comforting to see the reunions that take place at the Open year after year: from those who have not missed an edition to a gentleman from Paris who has been coming for the last consecutive years because he loves the tournament, to that little boy you saw playing ten editions ago and now turns out to be a grandmaster. Many stories have happened in the auditorium of Les Cotxeres de Sants during 24 editions!

"It is always comforting to see the reunions that take place year after year: from those who have not missed an edition to a gentleman from Paris who has been coming for the last few years"

--- Several, yes. One of the ones I like the most is about a South American player and an Indian player who met during the Catalan Chess Circuit ---I wouldn't know if in Sants exactly--- and who, today, are married and have children. Or that Indian boy who came a few editions ago to play in our tournament and, currently, is one of the finalists of the World Cup held in Baku (Azerbaijan), fighting against Magnus Carlsen and company.

--- Well, this seems like it's about to start now.

--- Let me invite readers to pay us a visit. They have until August 27, starting at 4:30 p.m., here at Les Cotxeres de Sants. Let them come and see what an international tournament is like, enjoy the games on the giant screens, under this canopy of flags that accompany the playing hall, and with the gegants of Sants guarding the entrance. And, above all, let them come and enjoy the magic of chess. Admission is completely free and the spectacle is guaranteed.