Emisfero Scacchi

The Timeless Charm of the Ancient Game of Chess Embraces the Green Island

The timeless charm of the ancient game of chess envelops the Green Island, making it a protagonist of many events dedicated to this noble discipline.
The “royal game,” whose origins are attributed to the ancient Indians under the name Caturanga and later (around the 7th century) passed on to the Persians and, more broadly, to the Islamic world, owes its current name Scacchi to the Persian word “Shāh,” meaning King.

This figure, being the central protagonist of the game, holds a fundamental role in our recreational activity.

The philosopher Friedrich Schiller attributed to play, in general, the function of a medium for achieving freedom and the expression of imagination. Indeed, on our island, this spirit is reflected in the many enthusiasts who, with passion, dedication, and organizational commitment, contribute to the realization of numerous events devoted to this particular sport—one in which the island has long had, and continues to have, excellent representatives on both the national and international stage.

Among these initiatives, a now well-established tradition is the International Festival “Ischia the Green Island,” organized for sixteen consecutive years by the Associazione Giochi di Natale and, as of this year, enriched by the partnership with the long-standing Associazione Scacchistica Partenopea.

Among the many who embrace the motto “Gens Una Sumus” (“We are one family”), emblem of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), the island could not be without its own representative body: Scacchischia, a WhatsApp group created in 2022.
This initiative, stemming from Associazione Giochi di Natale and other socially active organizations, was born from the need to centralize and promote the continuous practice of the sport of towers and knights under one common banner.

Thanks to the principal of the Giovanni Scotti Middle School of Ischia and his collaborators, for the past three years the school has hosted biweekly chess meetings—on Wednesday afternoons and Sunday mornings—regularly attended by both young players and adults.

Beginning in early 2025, within the framework of Scacchischia, a true amateur tournament was also held, featuring primarily promising young local players.
This competition was rightfully dedicated to one of the island’s most esteemed promoters of culture and sport, Principal Antonio De Simone—a refined intellectual, skilled athlete, and meticulous chess player who even earned the title of Candidate Master.

With gratitude to the Municipality of Ischia for granting its moral patronage to the event, and to Mayor Dr. Enzo Ferrandino, who is expected to attend the award ceremony, the Scacchischia group and the Associazione Giochi di Natale express heartfelt thanks to the family—who graciously allowed this tribute to the unforgettable Antonio—and to the Scotti Middle School.

They invite everyone to attend the award ceremony on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at the Giovanni Scotti Middle School, Ischia, where on-site parking will be available.

Those who wish to take part free of charge in chess practice sessions are invited to contact the Scacchischia coordinators at the following numbers: 329 272 1547 or 333 921 839.

Further information is available at:
🔗 https://www.iltorrioneforio.it/it/eventi/emisfero-scacchi