The very first “Rencontres Internationales des Échecs Francophones” were held in Marrakech in 2013 with Garry Kasparov dropping by to show his support. Then, in 2014 in Beyrouth, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov himself, President of FIDE, attended the event bringing along a number of VIP.
All records were broken in Montréal, July 2015, for the 3rd edition and the highest number of players ever (219) coming from 4 continents, including 11 Grand Masters.
This year, the 4th Rencontres started today and will be held until October 30th, at the magnificent Palais de l’Europe in Menton/France. Menton is definitely one of the most touristic coastal cities of the Riviera (la Côte d’Azur), just next to the Italian border and only 7 km from Monte Carlo.
AIDEF is extremely grateful to the city of Menton, the Regional Counsel of the «Alpes-Maritimes» as well as to the local chess club «l’échiquier mentonnais».
All relevant information can be downloaded here.
AIDEF is a sport association yet also a cultural one. Created in 2007, it has been officially recognized by FIDE (Fédération Internationale Des Échecs) as an affiliated international organisation since the 81st Congress that took place during the Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia) Olympiads in September 2010.
Its goal is to develop the teaching of chess in all its Members States, encouraging the use of French in the chess world, uniting women and men of all races and religions. French speaking and playing chess is the common bond helping spread the sport, artistic, intellectual and moral values of chess among Members.
The association consists of chess federations of States belonging to the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) as well as regional entities of French speaking chess associations anywhere in the world. As of now, we can proudly claim 39 Members coming from 33 countries.
The association is very active both nationally and internationally, yet the major event is the #Rencontres Internationales des Échecs Francophones” being held yearly since 2013, growing every year since and clearly becoming a worldwide event. This is a unique occasion to get together and compete for La Francophonie Championship titles, but also to participate in training programs. Conviviality and friendliness, the trademark of the association, also helps to bind North-South francophone relationships.
Photos by Patrick Van Hoolandt