From December 12th to 22nd 2024, I had the opportunity to participate in one of the most prestigious international chess tournaments: the Sunway Sitges Chess Festival!
Set in the picturesque town of Sitges, just 30 minutes from Barcelona, the tournament attracted hundreds of players from over 40 countries. Participants competed in two sections: the A tournament, open to all players, and the B tournament, for those rated under 2000 Elo.
As is tradition, the A tournament featured a stellar lineup of top players. This year, the likes of Kirill Alekseenko, Vassily Ivanchuk, and Jules Moussard battled it out for the top spots and a first-place prize of 5.000€! In fact, the total prize fund for the standard tournaments alone was 30.000€. And that’s not all Sunway Sitges goes beyond just the main event by offering a range of activities to create an unforgettable experience for participants.
There were numerous blitz and bullet tournaments to keep players engaged, as well as unique extracurricular activities. I even took part in cooking masterclasses, where I learned to prepare (and, of course, taste!) local dishes like paella, tartars, ceviche, and tapas.
For chess enthusiasts, the tournament also offered daily Grandmaster conferences. These sessions provided a rare opportunity to delve into high-level chess concepts with ease, enriching the overall experience.
But the activities didn’t stop there! Sports events like padel and yoga sessions were available, along with festive workshops like Christmas decoration classes, perfect for the holiday season. The organizers also hosted two parties, one mid-tournament and another at the end, giving players a chance to unwind and connect off the board.
As for the chess itself, the A tournament was won by 15-year-old Russian talent GM Savva Vetokhin (2502), who triumphed 2-0 in the final playoff against Israeli GM Ido Gorshtein (2542). Third place went to Chinese GM Di Li (2552). In the B tournament, spanish player Enric Saldana Caballe (1971) delivered an impressive performance, finishing with 9/10 (8 wins and 2 draws). The runner-up, Mexican player Victor Manuel Montiel Sanchez, and German competitor Thomas Hollmann rounded out the podium with 7.5 points each, separated only by tiebreaks.
So, how did my tournament go?
I was satisfied with my overall play. I managed to deliver strong performances in every game, although I unfortunately lost some matches I could have drawn and drew others I might have won. Despite the ups and downs, I ended with a small Elo gain (just one point!) and finished with a score of 4,5/10.
For details on each game, you can check out the video links below.
The experience itself, combined with the pleasant weather (even in December, you could comfortably walk around in a t-shirt during the day), made this tournament truly exceptional. I’m already looking forward to participating again, and I’m equally excited about the Sunway Formentera tournament, held every April-May by the same amazing organizers!
