Irene, Valentina and Jimena, three girls from La Palma, have been participating since this Friday in the Under-14 Spanish Chess Championship being held in Almería. The three chess players represent the island in a national competition that brings together the best young talents in the country.
The chess scene from La Palma has a national presence. Since this Friday, three young players from La Palma are competing in the Under-14 Spanish Championship taking place in Almería. Irene, Valentina and Jimena, whose ages have not been disclosed, are the island's representatives in a tournament that gathers the best youth talents in the country.
The three chess players arrived at the event after successfully passing previous qualifying rounds. The championship, organised by the Spanish Chess Federation, will last several days at the venue in Almería. The participation of the players from La Palma marks a milestone for island chess, which aims to consolidate its talent pool.
The Under-14 tournament is one of the reference competitions in youth categories. Participants face off in a Swiss system over several rounds, with slow-paced games. The La Palma delegation travelled with coaches and family members, according to sources from the sports community.
The presence of the three young players in Almería reflects the work of the chess clubs in La Palma, which have been promoting the training of players from an early age. In recent years, the island has seen an increase in the number of federation licenses in lower categories, although it has not yet reached figures comparable to other Canary Islands.
The Under-14 Spanish Championship is held annually and serves as a qualifier for international youth tournaments. The 2026 edition features over a hundred participants from all autonomous communities. The Canary Islands have representation in several categories, with La Palma being one of the islands with the most players qualified in proportion to its population.
Irene, Valentina and Jimena have shown a notable competitive level in previous island and regional tournaments. Their qualification for the national phase was met with satisfaction by the La Palma Island Chess Federation, which has closely followed their progress. The president of the federation, who remained unnamed, positively assessed the efforts of the young players and their families.
The championship is taking place in a hotel in the capital of Almería, with designated playing rooms and safety measures for the participants. Games began in the morning and afternoon, and results are updated on the official event website. For the players from La Palma, the experience goes beyond the results: it represents a learning opportunity and a chance to compete against rivals from across the country.
Chess has a tradition in La Palma, with clubs in municipalities such as Santa Cruz de La Palma, Los Llanos de Aridane and El Paso. The female talent pool, although minority, has made strides in recent years. The participation of Irene, Valentina and Jimena in a national under-14 event is an example of this growth.
The Under-14 Spanish Championship will conclude next Wednesday. Until then, the three chess players from La Palma will compete in an average of seven games. Their families and supporters are following the competition from a distance, awaiting the results. The return to the island is scheduled for Thursday, with the satisfaction of having represented La Palma at a national event.
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