A priest to represent the Vatican State at the European Individual Chess 2010
Don Valerio Piro from Neapolis to represent the country
Report by Chessdom.com
For the first time in the history of FIDE and ECU, there will be a ‘priest’ to represent the Vatican State at the European Individual Chess Championship in Rijeka 2010. This is Don Valerio Piro, from Neapolis. He got the formal authorization to participate from Cardinal Sepe, who reports directly to the Pope.
Don Valerio is candidate master from the Italian Chess Federation. He is registered for Italy, but will play with the flag of Vaticano at EICC. This will happen unofficially, as the Vatican City is not yet affiliated to FIDE. There is an idea to organize a special ‘ecclesiastics’ championship for priests, friars, monks, nuns, and later on create a Chess Federation of the Vatican state with possibility to see them in Khanty Mansiysk 2010 or at the Chess Olympiad 2012.
Historically there are many priests who have been good chess players, among them Ruy Lopez (with a famous opening named after him) and William Lombardy, assistant of Bobby Fischer.
EICC general information / Men participants / Women participants
Chessdom.com would like to thank Adolivio Capece, who first noted the news and the full news page at the most important ‘catholic’ newspaper, “Avvenire”.
Is it a sin to beat the Priest?
This is great for chess.
This is inspiring since I have a 9 years old who wanted to be a priest and he is also into chess. I will definitely let him read this article. My boy is the one who told me that Ruy Lopez was a spanish priest.
A good public relations move by the Vatican – about time! Priests, nuns and monks are people, after all, albeit with a religious calling. The Church needs to do more of this kind of outreach to finally move it into the 21st century CE – not BCE!
We can also highlight Vatican’s Popes who play chess and are master strength like Pope John Paul II. He also composed chess problems as well, plays chess in Poland before…
It is indeed a great move!