Cancún Hosts 100+ Player Chess Tournament

CANCÚN, QROO — With the participation of more than 100 players across various categories, the 2025 State Chess Tournament was held at the Ka’Yok’ Planetarium in Cancún. The event was part of ongoing efforts to promote chess among the youth of Quintana Roo.

The competition was organized by the Quintana Roo Sports Commission (CODEQ), the Quintanarroense Institute of Youth (IQJ), and the Quintanarroense Council of Humanities, Sciences, and Technologies (COQHCYT), in coordination with the National Chess Federation of Mexico (FENAMAC). Beyond promoting the sport, the tournament also served as a qualifying event to select the state’s representatives for national and international competitions.

Jacobo Arzate Hop, president of CODEQ, highlighted that this type of activity contributes to the reconstruction of the social fabric by providing spaces for coexistence and development for young people, in line with the New Agreement for Wellbeing and Development promoted by Governor Mara Lezama.

For his part, Christopher Malpica, director of COQHCYT, underscored that the realization of the tournament is the result of months of work to consolidate chess as a growing discipline in the state.

Alma Alvarado, director of the IQJ, added that the competition is part of the activities for Youth Month, which seeks to open more opportunities for participation for young people.

Representatives from FENAMAC, federal deputies, and members of the Quintana Roo chess community were present at the inauguration.