Rimini Welcomes Europe’s Inclusive Chess Community
Where talent overcomes every barrier and chess becomes a bridge between people, cultures, and nations.
From 13 to 20 June 2026, the city of Rimini will host the 28th Six Nations Cup for Blind and Visually Impaired Chess Players , one of the most prestigious international events dedicated to chess players with visual impairments. It is a historic occasion for ASCID, for Italy, and for the entire movement of organizations promoting inclusion through chess. Some events tell a story of passion, commitment, collective growth, and inclusion. Events that become symbols. The 28th Six Nations Cup for Blind and Visually Impaired Chess Players, scheduled to take place in Rimini from 13 to 20 June 2026, is one of them. For the first time in its long history, this prestigious international competition is coming to Italy. This achievement marks an important milestone in the journey of the Italian Association of Blind and Visually Impaired Chess Players (ASCID) and is a source of pride for our entire community. For one week, Rimini will become the European capital of chess for people with visual impairments , welcoming players from Italy, France, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Sweden. In the halls of the Admiral Art Hotel, different stories, languages, cultures and experiences will come together, united by a shared passion: the game of chess.
A Tradition Spanning Europe
The Six Nations Cup is one of the most important and longest-running competitions in the international chess scene for blind and visually impaired players. For decades, it has been a prestigious and eagerly awaited event, bringing together players from various European countries in a spirit of fair competition, mutual respect and friendship. Behind every game lie years of study, training, sacrifice and dedication. Yet there is something even deeper: the awareness of belonging to an international community that has transformed an individual passion into a powerful instrument for personal growth, participation and inclusion.
A Chessboard Without Barriers
Chess occupies a special place in the world of sport. It is an accessible discipline in which blind and visually impaired players can express their talent through the use of tactile chessboards and talking chess clocks. Yet its value goes far beyond these technical adaptations. Few human activities embody the principle of equal opportunity as effectively as chess. On the chessboard, physical appearance, social background, age or personal circumstances do not matter. What matters are strategic intelligence, concentration, creativity and the courage to make decisions. There is also another element that makes chess truly unique in the sporting world: it is the most complete example of a discipline in which blind, visually impaired and sighted people can genuinely compete together , under the same rules, in the same tournaments, sharing the same international rating system and aspiring to the same sporting titles. There are no separate categories to determine the value of a brilliant move or the depth of a strategic idea. The chessboard thus becomes a genuine place of equality, where each person is judged solely by what they can do. Perhaps this is the most valuable lesson that chess continues to offer contemporary society.
Rimini: A City of Hospitality and Inclusion
The choice of Rimini as the host city carries special significance. A city that has always been open to encounters between people and cultures, Rimini is preparing to welcome players, companions and guests, offering not only high-quality accommodation and organization, but also the warmth of a community that has made hospitality one of its defining values. The event also represents an important opportunity to promote the local area, enhance its cultural heritage, and strengthen the image of a city capable of combining tourism, sport and inclusion. It is no coincidence that the event enjoys the support and cooperation of the Municipality of Rimini, the Italian Chess Federation and its Emilia-Romagna Regional Committee, the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired, its Rimini Territorial Section, the Lions Club Rimini Host, Rimini Scacchi Chess Club, Occhialeria Sociale, and numerous volunteers who will contribute their time, expertise and enthusiasm. Among the most meaningful moments of the week will be the rest day dedicated to discovering Rimini. Thanks to the collaboration of the Lions Club Rimini Host, guests from across Europe will enjoy an experience that goes beyond sporting competition, transforming the event into an opportunity to encounter the history, culture and traditions of the area. Because chess brings people together not only across the chessboard, but also through mutual understanding and the sharing of cultural identities.
A Victory Beyond the Sporting Result
Like every competition, the Six Nations Cup will ultimately have a winning team. There will be rankings, points, medals and trophies, but the deepest meaning of the event goes far beyond any sporting result. Every player who sits down at the chessboard will bring with them a personal story of study, commitment and passion. Every game will stand as tangible evidence of full participation in sporting and cultural life. Every handshake will convey a message of friendship capable of transcending borders. For this reason, the true victory will be the meeting of people. It will be the victory of inclusion over distance, of mutual understanding over indifference, of cooperation over division. It will demonstrate that talent, when given opportunities and support, can flourish without limits.
An Event Belonging to Our Entire Community
For ASCID and for all those who believe in the value of sport as a tool for empowerment and participation, the 28th Six Nations Cup represents recognition of a long journey built over the years through the dedication of players, officials, volunteers and supporters. It is an extraordinary opportunity to show Europe and the world the abilities, talent and determination of blind and visually impaired people. Above all, it confirms that inclusion is not an abstract concept, but a concrete reality that can take shape even through sixty-four black and white squares. From 13 to 20 June, in Rimini, those sixty-four squares will tell a story of sport, friendship and humanity. A story that belongs to all of us.