The canterano of Club d’Escacs Barberà has just added his second IM norm in the closed games of Club d’Escacs Barcelona and is just one step away from entering the elite. We review his milestones, the support of the Llobregat Open Chess and the challenges ahead.
A second rule forged in the Club d’Escacs Barcelona’s closed rooms.
The last week of June, the centenary Club d’Escacs Barcelona organized three round-robin tournaments of 10 players. Most of the participating players are young and scholarship holders in the Elite program of the Spanish Chess Federation (FEDA) along with International Masters and Grandmasters of other nationalities.
The young FM Àlex Villa participated in the Second Tournament valid for obtaining the IM norm and managed to establish the minimum requirement of 7 points out of 9 games and thus achieve his second International Master norm. The first one was obtained at the age of 13 years and one month, in the Magistral of Mutxamel (Alicante).
He only has to achieve an IM norm in an International Open to get the title that opens the doors to professional chess, since Alex managed to overcome the barrier of 2400 FIDE ELO points in September 2023, a requirement that FIDE (International Chess Federation) demands to obtain this title.
Support of El Llobregat Open Chess: a unique sponsorship program
Since 2022, Alex Villa is the first player sponsored by El Llobregat Open Chess Tournament, within a scholarship plan that covers travel, analysis with grandmasters and registration in international tournaments. The portal has continued its progression with technical chronicles, live broadcasts and publication of commented games, highlighting the collaboration of the journalist specialized in chess, Leontxo García (El PAIS).
Alex, only 12 years old, defeated his first GM Starostits, Ilmars with white pieces, in a victory that El País described as a “jewel” for its tactical precision.
What’s next: Alex’s agenda for July and August, rest after EL Llobregat Open Chess.
Alex will compete in the Barberá International Open from July 4 to 13. After a week’s rest he will compete in the prestigious Andorra International Open, from July 19 to 27, where he hopes to get his last rule for the title.
In August he will play as a guest of the FEDA the European Championship U16 in Rapid and Blitz mode, where he is one of the best specialists of his age, will be played in Salonike (Greece).
On his return from the European Championship he will take part in the Spanish 1st Division Team Championship with his team Barberá, in the town of Linares, which starts on August 8th and finally, he will participate in the Spanish U18 Championship in the town of Úbeda (Jaén) from August 22nd to 27th.
We can confirm from our editorial office that in the VI Edition of the Open Chess Tournament El Llobregat, Alex’s participation is already confirmed.
The road to success is very hard
Any elite athlete, whether professional or amateur, has turning points such as pre-adolescence or adolescence and grassroots sport is also often faced with frustration. Losing games or having a tournament go badly can even sink a player’s spirits.
Leontxo Garcia very attentive as always with the evolution of all the talented players of Spanish chess hit the key in the only weakness he saw in Alex: the control of emotions in his game. Alex is an excellent tactical player who is able to use his imagination in equal positions on the board but often takes unnecessary risks, when in chess what prevails is to win, but balancing well the mind of the athlete with that of the person.
In chess there are good sports psychology professionals in Spain who are starting to work with players to overcome these shortcomings. In Alex’s case, this last year he is combining his training with the control of emotions and it seems that his coach GM Levan Aroshidze is getting better results.
Congratulations, Àlex. The board is waiting for your third rule.
