The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will be open to anyone born in 1966 or earlier, regardless of their chess experience. Participation will be free, and registration will be available from September 16 to 29, on a first-come, first-served basis and until all 150 places are filled, via torneos@ajedrezaragon.es. The activity is organized by Zaragoza City Council's Department for Older Persons together with the Aragonese Chess Federation.
The tournament will use a six-round Swiss system, with games lasting five minutes plus three seconds per move. There will be two competition groups: one reserved for users of Zaragoza City Council's Senior Community Centers and another for all other participants.
GAMES OPEN TO EVERYONE IN THE CITY
Beyond the competition, the event will allow anyone visiting Paseo de la Independencia to try their luck against Aragon's veteran champions, in both the men's and women's categories. Special tables will be set up for quick and simultaneous games, bringing chess to people who are not registered for the tournament as well.
The initiative aims to take chess out of the Community Centers and bring it to one of the busiest areas of the Aragonese capital, highlighting the active role of older people in city life. The municipal network currently has more than 12 chess groups, with around 200 people practicing the activity throughout the year, as well as projects such as "Ajedrezarte" and ten regular workshops.
Chess is thus presented as a tool for keeping the mind active, improving concentration and memory and, at the same time, creating spaces for social interaction and community life. The event will coincide with the International Day of Older Persons, under the theme "The Era of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives," a day that champions active aging and the participation of older people in society.
