Welcome Messages
Message from the ICCD President
Dear Chess Friends,
It is with great pleasure that I invite you to the 20th ICCD World Deaf Chess Championships 2026, to be held in Roquetas de Mar, Spain. This prestigious international event will bring together the finest Deaf chess players from around the world, covering both team and individual competitions, and showcasing sporting excellence, cultural exchange, and the spirit of unity that defines the global Deaf chess community.
I am especially proud that last year FIDE (the International Chess Federation) officially recognized the 75th anniversary of ICCD, paying tribute to our long history of promoting chess among Deaf players and strengthening the global presence of our sport. This recognition reflects the commitment, perseverance, and passion that have guided our organization through decades of development.
In addition, during these championships we will hold the 38th ICCD Congress in Roquetas de Mar, at which a new ICCD President will be elected. After more than twelve years leading the organization, the time has come for a transition. I will not continue in this role, but I trust that the new President will assume this responsibility with wisdom and continue advancing along the path of growth, unity, and progress within the Deaf chess community.
I look forward to welcoming you to Roquetas de Mar, where chess, culture, and friendship will come together in a truly unique championship.
With chess greetings,
Phillip Gardner
President of ICCD
Message from the Coordinator of the Organizing Committee
It is a great honor to welcome the international Deaf chess community to Roquetas de Mar, one of Spain’s most prominent chess venues and my adopted city.
With a strong tradition of hosting major International Chess Opens and Spanish Chess Championships, Roquetas de Mar provides the ideal setting for this prestigious event.
Our objective is to ensure fair competition, high-quality facilities, and a welcoming environment, with a firm commitment to inclusive and disability sport.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the City Council of Roquetas de Mar, the Provincial Council of Almería, the Andalusian Regional Government, and the private partners whose support has been essential in making this championship possible and in promoting the values of inclusion, accessibility, and equal opportunities.
Deaf chess players are recognized for their high sporting level and competitive excellence. When given opportunities, these championships become a true springboard for sporting and personal growth, allowing us to continue building shared experiences, learning, and international projection.
May these days in Roquetas de Mar become a truly unforgettable sporting and human experience, marked by respect, friendship, and a shared passion for chess.
Welcome to Roquetas de Mar—your home during these days.
Alfredo Gómez Fernández
Coordinator of the Organizing Committee – ICCD Roquetas 2026
Indalo Almería Deaf Sports Club
Message from the City Council of Roquetas de Mar
On the occasion of the 20th ICCD World Deaf Team Chess Championship
As Mayor of Roquetas de Mar, it is a true honour and great satisfaction for me to welcome all participants, delegations, organisers and visitors attending the 20th ICCD World Deaf Team Chess Championship.
Roquetas de Mar is deeply proud to host an international sporting event of such high level and global relevance. Included in the official world competition calendar, this championship will bring together national teams from different countries around a discipline as universal and intellectual as chess.
The selection of our municipality as host city reflects our organisational capacity, the quality of our infrastructure, and our strong commitment to sport as a driving force for coexistence, international projection, and social development.
This championship also represents an extraordinary opportunity to promote equal opportunities, inclusion, and the value of adapted sport, contributing to a more just, accessible and respectful society. Chess, as a universal intellectual sport, symbolises effort, perseverance and participation under conditions of full equity.
The City Council of Roquetas de Mar wishes to highlight the important work of the organising and collaborating entities, as well as their commitment to inclusive sport and to initiatives that transcend the purely sporting sphere to become true social and human references.
I am convinced that this championship will be a success both sportingly and organisationally, and that it will further strengthen the image of Roquetas de Mar as an open, welcoming municipality fully prepared to host major international events. It will also generate a positive impact on the tourism, economic and social life of our city.
On behalf of all the citizens of Roquetas de Mar, I warmly welcome you and wish all participants an unforgettable stay filled with friendship, cultural exchange and sporting success.
Gabriel Amat Ayllón
Mayor of Roquetas de Mar
Message from the Provincial Council of Almería
Pending publication
The official welcome message from the Provincial Council of Almería will be published shortly.
Message from the Andalusian Regional Government
WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL MINISTER OF CULTURE AND SPORT
20th World Deaf Team Chess Championship – ICCD 2026
It is an honor to welcome the 20th World Deaf Team Chess Championship, which will be held from May 6 to 15, a top-level sporting event that turns Roquetas de Mar into a meeting point for international chess and, especially, inclusive sport.
This championship will bring together more than 150 athletes, coaches, arbiters, and delegates from over 35 countries. Their presence in Andalusia demonstrates the growing international recognition of our region as an ideal venue for hosting major competitions and as a territory committed to the values of equality, accessibility, and inclusion through sport.
The competition program, which includes classical, rapid, and blitz chess formats, both individual and team events, offers an outstanding sporting spectacle and an excellent opportunity to continue promoting the strategic and cultural richness of chess. Likewise, the 38th ICCD International Congress, bringing together delegates from 54 national federations, reinforces the global nature of this event and its importance within the international deaf sports movement.
Beyond the competition, this event also incorporates a highly valuable social and cultural dimension. The planned side activities — exhibitions on the history of deaf chess, live broadcasts, and institutional meetings — will help raise awareness in society about the importance of building increasingly accessible and inclusive environments.
For Andalusia, hosting this championship represents an extraordinary opportunity to continue advancing the promotion of sport for all and to project internationally our commitment to inclusion and equal opportunities. At the same time, it provides a boost to sports tourism and strengthens the image of our region as an open, welcoming destination prepared to organize major international events.
I would like to congratulate all the institutions and organizations that have made this event possible, as well as thank the organizers, volunteers, and professionals who are working to ensure the success of this championship.
To all participants and visitors, I wish you an unforgettable stay and hope you enjoy both the competition and the hospitality, culture, and heritage of Andalusia.
Welcome, and best of luck to everyone.
Patricia del Pozo Fernández
Regional Minister of Culture and Sport
Regional Government of Andalusia