Bridging chess with culture, history and tradition
New chess events emerge constantly, to the great delight of chess enthusiasts. Privately organised open tournaments are particularly beneficial to “ordinary” players, opening doors to rating gains, title norms and crucial financial rewards.
The latest addition to the chess calendar comes from the south of France. Caissargues, a picturesque town in the Gard department, will host the inaugural Apogee Chess Festival from August 22 to 30, 2026.
The location of the Gard region in France
Located just five kilometres from the historic city of Nîmes, Caissargues and its surrounding areas are steeped in medieval and Roman history.
The Roman amphitheatre in Nîmes, one of the best-preserved in the world | Photo: Nimes Tourist Office
Aptly named ‘Apogee’ (pinnacle), the festival aims to reach the heights of the game by bringing together established stars and rising talents through competitive tournaments and simultaneous exhibitions.
The festival is the brainchild of French International Master Silvia Alexieva. Born in Bulgaria, Alexieva moved to France in 2000. She represented Bulgaria in the Women’s Chess Olympiads from 1994 to 2002 before switching to the French flag. Her career highlights include winning the European Girls U20 Championship (1994), the Mediterranean Women’s Championship (Beirut, 2003) and the French Women’s Championship (2007). She also earned an individual silver medal on board four playing for France at the 2012 Women’s Chess Olympiad. She was awarded the International Master title in 2003 and had a peak rating of 2408.
IM Silvia Alexieva | Photo: Caissargues Chess Club
Silvia’s most recent triumphs include winning the European Senior Women’s Championship (+50) both in 2024 and 2026, scoring a dominant 8/9 points in Italy this year.
European Senior Women’s Championship 2026 winners: IM Silvia Alexieva (1st), WGM Elvira Berend (2nd) and IM Elena Sedina (3rd) | Photo: European Chess Union
In recent years, Alexieva has expanded her impact through organizational and leadership roles. Since 2023, she has served as the captain of the French National Women’s Team. However, her most enduring contribution to the sport may well be founding and presiding over the Caissargues Chess Club. In this role, she launched this year’s ambitious festival.
The tournament boasts a €26,000 prize fund distributed across two FIDE-rated Open sections: the Apogee Masters (for players rated 1900 Elo and above) and the Apogee Accession (for players below 2000 Elo). The Masters tournament offers a €5,000 first prize for the overall winner and a €2,000 prize for the top female finisher.
As a passionate advocate for gender equality in chess, Silvia secured an additional €3,000 from a private sponsor. This financial complement boosts the top woman’s prize to equal the €5,000 overall first prize. Interestingly, this independent setup circumvents a traditional FIDE regulation that prevents an open tournament’s “best woman” prize from matching the baseline first-place overall prize.
Lifelong friendships can prove invaluable in such momentous endeavours. Silvia invited her childhood friend from Bulgaria, former FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov, to support her inaugural event. Honouring their 40-year friendship, Topalov accepted the invitation to make a rare appearance at an open festival. He will host a 20-board simultaneous exhibition in front of Nîmes’ historic Maison Carrée and interact with participants in relaxed Q&A sessions.
Veselin Topalov, a guest of honour at the first edition of the Apogee Chess Festival | Photo: Apogee Festival’s website
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Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: King’s Indian Setup
Ultimately, the Apogee Chess Festival focuses on bridging chess with culture, history and tradition. On the evening of August 29, the iconic Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard will serve as the backdrop for an attractive side event: the “Mondial de la Parole” (World Festival of Speech). This public speaking contest will bring together young orators aged 18 to 25 to compete in the ancient art of rhetoric.
The Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard | Photo: Pont du Gard Tourist Office
While this inaugural edition of the Apogee Chess Festival might still be flying slightly under the radar globally, it represents a highly promising addition to the international chess scene. If a last-minute trip south is not in the cards for you this August, it is a tournament that absolutely deserves to be pencilled into your calendar for its second edition in 2027.