Former World Champion Topalov Stars at Inaugural Apogee Chess Festival

The picturesque town of Caissargues, nestled in the Gard department of southern France, is set to host the inaugural Apogee Chess Festival from August 22 to 30, 2026. The event promises to blend high-level competitive chess with the rich cultural heritage of the region, featuring a €26,000 prize fund and a rare appearance by former FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov.

Organised by French International Master Silvia Alexieva, the festival will be held at the Salle Aldébaran in Caissargues, just five kilometres from the historic city of Nîmes. The venue offers excellent playing conditions, including air conditioning, parking, and on-site catering, with capacity for up to 300 players.

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Tournament Format and Prize Fund

The festival will feature two FIDE-rated open sections:

• Apogee Masters — Open to players rated 1900 Elo and above
• Apogee Accession — Open to players rated below 2000 Elo

Both tournaments will be played over nine rounds under the Swiss system, with one round per day. The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move from move one.

The total prize fund of €26,000 includes a first prize of €5,000 for the Apogee Masters winner. As a passionate advocate for gender equality in chess, organiser Silvia Alexieva secured an additional €3,000 from a private sponsor, ensuring the top women’s prize also reaches €5,000, matching the overall first-place prize.

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Veselin Topalov: Guest of Honour

The festival’s highlight is the presence of former FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov, who will appear as a guest of honour. Topalov, known for his creative and attacking style, accepted the invitation to support his childhood friend Silvia Alexieva, whom he has known for nearly 40 years.

Topalov will host a 20-board simultaneous exhibition in front of Nîmes’ historic Maison Carrée, one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the world. He will also participate in relaxed Q&A sessions with participants, offering insights into his legendary career and modern chess.

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Cultural Programme and Side Events

The Apogee Festival goes beyond competitive chess, offering a rich cultural programme designed to showcase the heritage of the Gard region.

Participants and visitors can enjoy guided visits to iconic landmarks, including the Roman amphitheatre (Arènes de Nîmes), the Maison Carrée, the Jardins de la Fontaine, the Musée de la Romanité, and the Pont du Gard — the UNESCO-listed Roman aqueduct. All cultural visits are offered free of charge to festival participants.

On the evening of August 29, the Pont du Gard will serve as the backdrop for a unique side event: the “Mondial de la Parole” (World Festival of Speech), a public speaking contest bringing together young orators aged 18 to 25 to compete in the ancient art of rhetoric.

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About the Organiser: Silvia Alexieva

Silvia Alexieva, the driving force behind the festival, is a distinguished figure in French chess. Born in Bulgaria, she moved to France in 2000 and has since represented France in multiple Women’s Chess Olympiads. Her career highlights include winning the European Girls U20 Championship (1994), the French Women’s Championship (2007), and the European Senior Women’s Championship in both 2024 and 2026.

Awarded the International Master title in 2003, Alexieva has served as captain of the French National Women’s Team since 2023. She is also the founder and president of the Caissargues Chess Club, which she established to promote chess in the region.

Alexieva told a local publication: “I have wanted Nîmes to become an international centre for chess. That’s why I created this event, this Apogee Festival. Chess can unite everyone — children, parents, grandparents. Around a chessboard, all generations can come together.”

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Registration and Practical Information

Registration fees are €50 for adults and €30 for young players until August 1, increasing to €60/€40 thereafter, with on-site registration available at €70/€50.

For more information or to register, interested players can contact the organisers at festivalapogee2026@gmail.com or visit the official website at caissargueschessclub.fr.

With a combination of top-level competition, a star guest, and a celebration of French heritage, the inaugural Apogee Chess Festival promises to be a landmark event on the international chess calendar.