16th Dolomiti International Tournament Begins in the Lap of Nature

by Niklesh Jain - 08/06/2025

The 16th Dolomiti International Chess Tournament began on Saturday in Forni di Sopra, located in the Dolomites mountain range, which is renowned as a World Heritage Site in Italy. Forni di Sopra is situated in the upper valley of the Tagliamento River, and the surrounding area is a protected natural region of Italy. This place feels like a paradise for playing chess, where the peaceful surroundings create a perfect setting for the game. In the first round played on the opening day, top-seeded Bulgarian Grandmaster Martin Petrov and second-seeded Indian International Master Himal Gusain succeeded in winning their respective games with ease. The tournament is being held in two categories — Group A for players rated above 1899 and Group B for players rated below 2000. Read this report & Photos from this beautiful location by Niklesh Jain.

16th Dolomiti International Chess Tournament: Easy Wins for Martin and Himal

The history of Forni di Sopra in Italy is considered to be around 2500 years old, and this is the 16th edition of the Dolomiti International Chess Tournament being held here.

As every year, the tournament is being organized at the local Sports Center.

A total of 81 players from around 9 countries are participating in this 9-round event, divided into two categories.

The playing venue offers very comfortable space for every player, and all boards are being broadcast live.Rounds in both sections are being held simultaneously. One round will be played every day at 3 p.m., except on June 9, when two rounds will be held.

In the Masters section, most of the top-seeded players started their campaign with easy wins.

On the top board, top seed Bulgarian Grandmaster Martin Petrov started his campaign by defeating Italy’s Simone Matteo with the black pieces.

Second seed International Master Himal Gusain, who is currently winning several tournaments in Europe and is close to earning the Grandmaster title, is the only Indian player here.

On the first day, playing with the white pieces, he defeated Italy’s Salvatore Lagrotteria and opened his score.

Colombian International Master and my life partner Angela Franco is also participating here. She began her campaign by defeating Italy’s Luca Predan.

To know what Forni di Sopra is like and how to reach here, watch my video here ( In Hindi ) :

Round 2 on 2025/06/08 at 15:00

Bo.	No.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	No.
1	1	GM	Petrov, Martin	2524	1		1		Fontana, Enrico	2097	10
2	9	WFM	Pirvulescu, Ekaterina	2100	1		1	IM	Gusain, Himal	2490	2
3	3	GM	Kotronias, Vasilios	2429	1		1	WFM	Grapsa, Georgia	2069	12
4	5	FM	Vidal, Llewellyn	2186	1		1		Ortobelli Lozza, Marco	2040	14
5	11	WIM	Franco Valencia, Angela	2091	1		1		Centamore, Alberto	2141	6
6	13		Andronescu, Madalin	2069	1		1	FM	Paasikangas, Johanna	2112	8
7	15		Fiorido, Giuseppe	2034	1		½	CM	Vincenti, Leonardo	2199	4
8	7	FM	Koskinen, Henri	2131	½		½		Budai, Leonardo	1975	20
9	22		Tellarini, Lorenzo	1962	½		½		Serea, Gabriele	2004	17
10	18		Budai, Federico	2002	½		½		Comisso, Daniele	1936	25
11	28		Pirvulescu, Adrian	1910	0		0		Simoni, Matteo	2012	16
12	19		Lagrotteria, Salvatore	2000	0		0		Alzamil, Abdulaziz	1918	27
13	30		Aljameel, Sultan Anwar	1824	0		0		Bordignon, Angelo	1971	21
14	32		Alkhateeb, Turki Abdullah S	1810	0		0		Ranfagni, Stefano	1960	23
15	24		Lugaresi, Gabriele	1937	0		0		Predan, Luca	1902	29
16	26	CM	Bellincampi, Stefano	1922	0		0		Alem, Ali Hussain	1823	31
17	33		Al Mutlaq, Ibrahim A	1807	0				bye

🌄 Forni di Sopra: A Natural Paradise Where Chess Meets Serenity
Forni di Sopra is a beautiful mountain town located in the northeastern part of Italy, in the province of Udine, within the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Known for its natural beauty, tranquil environment, and valleys surrounded by mountains, this place attracts thousands of tourists every year and is now becoming a center of attraction for international chess enthusiasts as well.

📍 Geographical Location
Forni di Sopra is situated at an altitude of approximately 907 meters above sea level. It lies in the Dolomites mountain range, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Towering mountains, lush green forests, waterfalls, and a clean, refreshing climate make this area exceptionally scenic.

The town is located in the upper valley of the Tagliamento River, and the surrounding region is part of the Dolomiti Friulane Natural Park, a protected natural area of Italy.

🏛️ Historical Background
Forni di Sopra has an ancient history, with evidence of human settlement dating back 2,500 years. Historically, the region was significant during both the Roman Empire and the medieval era.

One of the cultural highlights of the town is the Santa Maria Assunta Church, founded in the 13th century.

🌿 Natural Beauty
In summer, the area is covered with colorful wildflowers.
The surrounding forests are home to rare wildlife such as deer, foxes, owls, bears, and lynxes.
The valleys here are ideal for hiking and cycling.
Lakes, small waterfalls, and tall mountains provide a perfect setting for photography and meditation.

❄️ Climate
In the summer months (June to September), temperatures generally range between 15°C and 25°C, which is ideal for mental sports like chess.
During winter (December to March), the region experiences snowfall and is well-known for skiing and snowboarding.
The air remains clean and cool throughout the year, offering rejuvenation for both body and mind.

🎯 An Ideal Destination for Chess
Peaceful, naturally rich, and well-organized, Forni di Sopra provides an ideal setting for hosting chess tournaments. Its climate, surroundings, and facilities offer players the focus and calm needed for top-level competition.