Chess returns to Secà de Sant Pere with the Club Escacs Balàfia Summer Tournament
The Secà de Sant Pere neighbourhood in Lleida enjoyed an exciting afternoon of chess yesterday with the celebration of the Summer Chess Tournament, organised by Club Escacs Balàfia. It had been some time since the neighbourhood had hosted a tournament of this kind, and the event helped bring back the competitive, social and family-friendly atmosphere of chess to a very special place in the city.
The tournament took place at the Secà de Sant Pere Civic Centre, in an afternoon marked by a great atmosphere, participation and a shared passion for chess. The event brought together 21 players, including club members, non-federated players, young chess players and participants from other clubs, giving the tournament a diverse and very enriching character.
The competition was played at a rapid time control, with intense games from the very first round and excitement right up to the end. This format offered dynamic chess, quick decisions, close endgames and moments of real tension over the board. Throughout the afternoon, players and spectators enjoyed strong combinations, sporting spirit and a great desire to enjoy the game.
From a sporting point of view, Ferran Gutierrez was crowned tournament champion after a very solid performance, scoring 6.5 points out of 7 and showing great consistency throughout the event. Second place went to Josep Brunet, with 6 points, who also completed an excellent tournament. The podium was completed by Ricard Bringué, who finished with 5 points and was one of the main figures of the day.
It is also worth highlighting the strong performances of players such as Amin, Princep and Lara, who fought at the top of the standings and helped keep the tournament competitive and exciting until the final rounds.
Tournament prizes
The prize winners of the Summer Chess Tournament in Secà de Sant Pere were:
Overall standings
1st place: Ferran Gutierrez
2nd place: Josep Brunet
Best veteran player
Ricard Bringué
Best female player
Teresa Camarasa
Best non-federated players
1st non-federated player: Jaume Pujades
2nd non-federated player: Cesc Bosch
Junior categories
Best under-18: Miguel Vicente
Best under-14: David Nicholson
Best under-10: Ian Novell
From Club Escacs Balàfia, we would like to congratulate all the prize winners on their excellent tournament and also thank all participants for their sporting attitude. Beyond the results, the most important part of the day was being able to share an afternoon of chess, learning, friendship and community in the Secà de Sant Pere neighbourhood.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Associació de Veïns del Secà de Sant Pere, the Lleida City Council and the Diputació de Lleida for their support, which was essential in making this tournament possible. Thanks to this collaboration, chess can continue to reach local neighbourhoods and strengthen its role as a sporting, educational and social activity in the city of Lleida.
We would also like to thank the players from other clubs who joined us. Their presence helped make the tournament bigger, more competitive and more enriching, bringing different playing styles, experience and a fantastic atmosphere.
For Club Escacs Balàfia, this event was a wonderful experience. Bringing a chess tournament back to Secà de Sant Pere was especially meaningful for us, and we are very grateful for the warm welcome we received. We hope to return soon with new activities, new tournaments and more chess in Lleida.
