The Cuban Federation of Chess will request FIDE, the governing body of this sport in the world, to host a World Championship.
This is the world tournament of the Senior category (over 50 years) of 2026, which, if the idea comes to fruition, could be held in Varadero.
The purpose confirmed it to the sports portal Jit the Panamanian José Carrillo Pujol, president of FIDE America, an organization that brings together federations from across the continent and who would support the proposal.
#Cuba could host a world cup #chess
The idea of hosting the event for the senior category is supported by José Carrillo Pujol, president of Fide América.https://t.co/mxx15kPi93 pic.twitter.com/zBP638320G— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) January 19, 2025
The Itsmeño federation, who witnessed the innovative Blitz tournament for mixed couples held this Saturday in Havana, provided as an argument for this step the prestige of Cuba in the organization of important tournaments such as the Capablanca or the Guillermo García in Memoriam.
He also mentioned that, based on this history, the island was awarded the venue for the recent continental women’s and senior tournaments, in addition to the Central American tournament for women.
Cuba has never hosted a universal chess competition, but it has the experience of having hosted the Olympiad of this sport in 1966, considered an organizational success and one of the highest level to date.
“We are going to visit Varadero, see the conditions that can be created there, to prepare the application file for the International Chess Federation (FIDE, for its acronym in French),” said Carrillo Pujol, head of chess in America since 2022.
The famous Cuban resort will once again take center stage in the chess calendar this year, as after eight years it will once again be the setting for the next edition of Capablanca in Memoriam, scheduled for mid-May.
“People who are over 50 years old, which is the age limit to be considered senior, lived through the chess boom in Cuba decades ago and that was noticeable when we called the continental tournament in that category, which has been the one with the greatest response.” in terms of participation,” highlighted the Panamanian.
At the same time, he announced that it will be a good opportunity for Cuba to demonstrate its organizational capacity, and then outline more ambitious proposals.
