The 2026 Harry Camilleri Memorial Chess Tournament was held between 6th and 20th May at the Malta Chess Federation premises, marking the 9th edition of the event and continuing its place as an established fixture on the local chess calendar.
Played over seven rounds using the Swiss System format, the tournament featured a classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. This year’s edition once again brought together a strong mix of experienced players, rising juniors, and competitive local talent.
CM Matthew Portelli delivered a commanding performance throughout the tournament, securing clear first place with an excellent score of 6 points out of 7. Portelli had already mathematically secured tournament victory with one round still to play, confirming first place after Round 6. His strong performance also resulted in a gain of 28 rating points.
FM Patrick Zerafa finished in second place following a consistent tournament, while Alexander Greve completed the podium in third position after tie-breaks separated four players tied on 5/7.
One of the standout performances of the tournament came from John Refalo, who significantly outperformed his starting ranking. Entering the tournament seeded tenth, Refalo finished in fifth place overall while gaining an impressive 52 rating points, one of the largest rating gains of the event.
Category winners were:
Best U1900 – Onurcan Pala
Best U1600 – Nikol Borg
Best U18 – John Refalo
Best U14 – Keshav Reyansh
The tournament once again highlighted the competitive spirit and growing strength of the Maltese chess community, while continuing to honour the legacy of Harry Camilleri, one of Malta’s most respected chess figures.
The Malta Chess Federation thanks all players who participated in this year’s edition and looks forward to continuing to celebrate Harry Camilleri’s legacy through future editions of the tournament.
Prize presentations will take place during the annual dinner hosted by the Malta Chess Federation.
Full final standings and results can be viewed here:
https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1405076.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7&SNode=S0
Players deep in concentration during classical play at the 2026 Harry Camilleri Memorial Chess Tournament.
Two junior players face each other during the 2026 Harry Camilleri Memorial Chess Tournament, reflecting the growing presence of young talent within the local chess scene.
Cover photo: Players in action during one of the rounds of the 2026 Harry Camilleri Memorial Chess Tournament.