Over 35 chess players registered under the Malta Chess Federation went to Sicily to participate in the Italian League Chess Championships (CIS) held in Ragusa from on 20-22 March. In what is now an important part of the chess calendar, Maltese players look forward to test their skills against our Sicilian neighbours.
The MCF took part with 2 teams – Cavalieri di Malta in Serie C and Fortezza di Malta in Promotion. Cavalieri di Malta were led by Malta’s top rated player Matthew Portelli and included Duncan Vella (Captain), Jacob Zammit and Andrei Dobbin. On top board, Portelli had an outstanding score taking 4 out of 5 and taking 2 nd place on top board. Vella, on 2nd board scored an unbeaten 3 out of 5 taking 9 th place. Zammit scored 1.5/5 and Dobbin scored 2.5/5. The team achieved 2 wins and a draw from 5 games and ended in 17 th place from 35 teams.
Fortezza di Malta, in Promotion league was composed of junior players Tristan Jes Scicluna on board 1, captain Zachary Briffa on board 2, Benjamin Calleja Falzon on board 3 and Matthew Callus on board 4. Scicluna scored 3.5/5pts, Briffa 2.5/5pts, Calleja Falzon 1.5/5pts and Callus 3/5pts. The team managed to win 3 games ending in a respectable 24th place
(joint 16 th ) from 57 teams. Swieqi Chess Club took part with 2 teams – Accademia Scacchi Pace La Torre in Serie C
took 12 th place where Matthias Gatt placed 3rd on board 2; Accademia Scacchi Pace Il Pedone in Promotion division had an excellent tournament and managed to take 10 th place and thus get promoted to Serie C. Oana Caruana Pulpan won the best score on board 2 with 4.5/5pts.
The University of Malta participated with 2 teams in Promotion division. The first team ended in 14 th place while the second team finished in 33 rd place. Other Maltese players took part with Italian teams. Special mention goes to Robert Novak
who had an outstanding performance drawing against IM Garcia Aaron (2423) and drawing to IM Dusan Lekic (2224) in the Serie B. Clarence Psaila and Steve Mizzi played for Matti Internazionali and took 3 rd place and got promoted to Serie B. Mizzi achieved best result on board 4 with 4.5/5pts.
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Maltese representatives at the Italian Chess League (CIS) 2026 in Ragusa, Sicily.
Players gather outside the playing hall in Ragusa, Sicily, ahead of the start of a round at
the Italian Chess League (CIS) 2026.