Malta Chess Federation
National Chess Federation · Prof. Edward de Bono Ħandaq Middle School, Saint Ignatius College, Tal-Ħandaq, Ħal Qormi QRM 4001, Malta
Enquire through VisitMalta.co.ukServices, hours and details last checked against Malta Chess Federation's own published information.
The Malta Chess Federation, established in 1923, is the national body for chess in Malta, with premises at Saint Ignatius College in Ħandaq, Qormi. It organises local tournaments and championships, selects the national team, trains juniors and takes new members. Enquiries go through the VisitMalta.co.uk form on this page.
The Malta Chess Federation has been the home of organised chess in Malta since 1923. It brings together players, clubs and organisers across the islands, runs the national championships and represents Malta abroad. Its premises are at a school in Ħandaq, on the edge of Qormi, a town in the middle of the island close to the Valletta and Marsa road network.
On VisitMalta.co.uk it is listed in our directory of sports clubs in Malta. A UK player who wants to join a local event while on holiday, or a family moving to the island who want to find a club for a child, can start with a message through this page.
Tournaments and championships
The calendar is busy. Recent and upcoming events include the national junior rapid and blitz championships, junior championships, a memorial tournament named after Harry Camilleri, and Knight Shifts, a summer series of casual chess meet-ups across Malta. The national championships run through preliminaries, candidates and finals, and have reached their 89th edition. There is also a National Championships Festival, interschool team championships for secondary schools, and weekend and rapid tournaments, along with prize-giving dinners.
Malta has also hosted international chess, among them the World Amateur Championships in 2022 and the European Small Nations Team Championship in 2021. If you are visiting and want to play, ask which event is closest to your dates.
National team and training
The federation selects the national team for the World Chess Olympiad, publishing its selection policy and interim rankings; the 2026 Olympiad is in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Maltese players also travel to events abroad, and Malta sends youth players to European and world youth championships, and has taken part in the European Small Nations Team Championship.
Training is part of the picture too. The federation hosted a three-day Olympic training camp with the Hungarian Women's National Team and their coach, a grandmaster, which included endgame sessions, tactical exercises, a friendly team rapid tournament and a simultaneous exhibition. The visitors also toured Valletta, Mdina and the Three Cities. Its site includes sections on starting chess in Malta, chess training and the local clubs and organisers, and a FIDE trainer course was held in Malta in 2018.
Membership and getting started
New members can apply through the federation, and existing members renew their subscription each year. The website carries pages on how to start chess in Malta and how to take part in local tournaments, as well as player ratings, regulations, the federation statute and a code of ethics. Fees are not stated on the pages available, so ask when you enquire.
Beginners and returning players alike can ask about clubs near where they live or are staying, and anyone curious about the history of Maltese chess can ask about the past Malta champions, junior champions and senior champions listed by the federation. Photo galleries of past events, from interschool tournaments to Olympiads, are also kept on its website. Parents should mention the age of their child, as there are dedicated junior championships and school events.
Visiting Malta as a chess player
Chess pairs well with sightseeing. The Hungarian team visitors explored Valletta, Mdina and the Three Cities, and you can do the same with our Valletta guide, Mdina guide and Three Cities guide. For somewhere to stay, see hotels in Valletta or where to stay in Malta, and for travel from Britain, flights to Malta. Our Malta weather guide and things to do in Malta help fill the days between rounds.
Those who intend to settle can read the Malta relocation guide and the digital nomad guide.
How to get in touch
Tell the federation whether you want to join, play in an event, find a club or ask about junior chess, and give your dates if you are visiting. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the Malta Chess Federation.
Questions about Malta Chess Federation
When was the Malta Chess Federation established?
The federation was established in 1923. It is the national body for chess in Malta and organises championships, selects the national team and supports clubs, juniors and schools.
Where is the federation based?
Its premises are at the Prof. Edward de Bono Ħandaq Middle School, part of Saint Ignatius College, in Tal-Ħandaq, Qormi. Qormi is a town in the centre of Malta.
Can visitors play in tournaments?
The federation runs a calendar of local tournaments, rapid and blitz events and casual summer meet-ups. Tell it your dates in Malta and ask which events you could join as a visitor.
Does the federation run events for children?
Yes. There are junior championships, junior rapid and blitz championships and interschool team championships, and Malta sends youth players to European and world youth events.
How do I become a member?
The federation accepts applications from new members and handles yearly subscription renewals. Fees are not shown, so ask about them when you enquire through the form on this page.
How do I contact the federation?
Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page, saying whether you are asking about membership, events, junior chess or training. We will pass your message to the federation.
Practical information
The federation's premises are at the Prof. Edward de Bono Ħandaq Middle School, Saint Ignatius College, Tal-Ħandaq, Qormi QRM 4001. Opening hours are not published. Membership applications and renewals are handled by the federation. To ask a question about playing, joining or events, use the enquiry form on this page and VisitMalta.co.uk will pass your message to the federation.
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The details on this page were correct on 25 October 2026, as published on the Malta Chess Federation website. Services, prices and hours can change, so please confirm when you enquire.