Kos

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ACO 2025 World Amateur Chess Championship

Become World Champion
in your rating group!

About Us

Play chess and have your holiday too. — Amateur Chess Organization

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The 5-star chess experience for amateur and senior players.

Compete only against players of your own level

At ACO tournaments, no one has to be afraid that they don't get a fair chance. In most other chess tournaments you usually face opponents who are either (way) too strong or too weak and this can make the games either stressful or dull. Our events are played in 7 separated rating groups for players up to a rating of 2400. This means you only play against players of your own playing level. We even have a special group just for beginners. When joining our events prepare for 9 exciting games of chess!

Events organized by chess professionals

Our team consists of chess grandmasters and international chess masters with decades of experience. We played chess tournaments all over the world and know exactly what matters. Since 2012 we have brought together more than 2800 players from more than 60 countries. After the rounds, all participants have the chance to analyze their games with the help of grandmasters which are always present. You can also play blitz and simul with the GMs, as well as attend their lectures.

Familiar atmosphere & real friendships

Our goal is to offer you a chess event of a special kind. Of course the tournament takes priority, but we also want you and your companions to enjoy the whole experience. Play your chess games in the morning and spend the afternoon relaxing at the beach. Even if you come by yourself you definitely will return home with many new chess friends. Many participants have been coming back again and again for years and became friends. The atmosphere is always very friendly - on and off the chessboard.

Upcoming events:

Kos

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5* Atlantica Belvedere Resort

ACO 2025 World Amateur Chess Championship

Open to all players aged 16 and above
Open to all players aged 50 and above
Open to all players aged 65 and above
9 rounds / prize fund: EUR 5,000
Coaches on site: GM Daniel King, GM Zigurds Lanka, GM Spyridon Skembris

See event details

Kos

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5* Atlantica Belvedere Resort

ACO 2025 World Super Senior (65+) Chess Championship

Open to all players aged 16 and above
Open to all players aged 50 and above
Open to all players aged 65 and above
9 rounds / prize fund: EUR 5,000
Coaches on site: GM Daniel King, GM Zigurds Lanka, GM Spyridon Skembris

See event details

A golden pawn (chess piece) with transparent background

2012

since

25000+

chess

games

played

A golden queen (chess piece) with transparent background

3000+

participations

Train on site with world-class trainers!

At our chess tournaments, you have the unique opportunity to analyse your games personally and free of charge with a world-class coach. Once finished with your game, our grandmasters are there for you to give you a first-hand advice on what to improve in your games.

Train with the well-known grandmaster and chess commentator
‍Daniel King from England (middle), coaching legend grandmaster Zigurds Lanka from Latvia (left) and the former national coach of
Greece and Cyprus grandmaster Spyridon Skembris from Greece.

In addition, our coaches will give several lectures, play in the blitz tournaments and compete against you in a simultaneous display.

Three elderly males looking at camera shoulder to shoulder

Adult woman seen from waist height with microphone in hand, in background blurred silouhette blue mountains

Judit Polgar

Grandmaster

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Alexei Shirov

Grandmaster

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Vlastimil Hort

Grandmaster

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Juga di Prima

Chess singer

Chess legends and special guests!

At our tournamentsyou have the chance to meet up close some of the chess superstars. At one of our ACO World Amateur Championships, guest of honour and best female chess player of all time, Grandmaster Judit Polgar, presented the winners with their trophies. For an exclusive group of chess enthusiasts, former Vice World Champion Grandmaster Alexei Shirov offered a private preparatory seminar prior to the event.
‍
At the ACO World Senior Championship 2021, chess legend Grandmaster Vlastimil Hort was on site as a guest of honor, giving lectures, competing in simul and was available for discussions with
the participants. In 2017 and 2018, the chess singer Juga di Prima from Chile performed for us.

Testimonials

What participants say

Adult man visible from waist height looking at camera and holding trophy, in the background a wall with several logos

"The offered chess vacation package has more than met our expectations. All the promises of the invitation were fulfilled. The tournament organization is perfect. Despite the three-digit number of participants, a familiar, intimate atmosphere soon develops. October is ideal in Crete."

Christoph Kandler 🇩🇪

Two adult man seen from chest height, sitting at a table and looking at a chess board, in the background other players

"It's hard to decide what to praise first. The organization of the tournament, for which GM Falko Bindrich and IM Tobias Hirneise are responsible, is simply perfect. The hotel, located directly by the sea, impresses every visitor, the hotel's cuisine leaves nothing to be desired. In the fight on the 64 fields everyone gives his best, even if it is not always the best. At the lectures of the grandmasters everybody can learn something, at the simultaneous events with the grandmasters many a senior has the opportunity to pay a lesson."

Dr. Harbich & Dr. Frank Höfer 🇩🇪

Adult man seen from chest height, sitting at a table and looking at a chess board, in the background other players

"From registration, the organizers, the hotel staff, starting with Zoe, and Elena, the restaurant staff, were always helpful and friendly. Falko, Tobias, the referee, all were wonderful people. The resort facilities were perfect for the whole family. I have already signed up for next year's event. My wife and I plan to bring our children and grandson. I know they will enjoy it too, even though they don't play chess themselves at all. Grandmaster Spyridon Skembris was really generous with his knowledge and wisdom in chess as he was always available to analyze our games and also in the GM lectures. Congratulations and a big thank you to the organizers!"

Rolando Geronimo 🇧🇪

"It's really hard to say whether playing chess or swimming in the sea and pool was more fun. Rarely have we experienced such a great combination of chess and vacation: a great hotel, a super organization that made chess possible at all levels in Corona times, and exciting opponents. The concept with the different groups is also very family-friendly. We will come back anytime!"

Almut Steinbach und Marius Deuer 🇩🇪

Adult man seen from chest height, sitting in front of a chess board and looking up at the camera, in the background other players

"This is the second time I have participated in this great tournament. Everyone is so friendly, the organizing staff, the GMs and the players themselves. Where else can you have a vacation in the sun and play chess? Lots of food and alcohol with great evening entertainment, highly recommended."

Peter Merrifield 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent organization. I did not have the opportunity to do so on site. All the more I want to make up for it with this. From my point of view, it was a perfect tournament and I will be happy to come back next year! Organization perfect; rooms great; free consumption ideal; supporting program great; the attempt to bring the international (21 nations) a little bit into the foreground great. All around great! Thank you!"

Jürgen Morf 🇨🇭

Adult woman seen from chest height, sitting at a table and looking at a chess board, in the background other players

"Dear organizers, I was there for the first time. And I am thrilled. So many opportunities to play and experience chess as a banal amateur, with free water, coffee and cake at the board, to exchange with so many from other countries, in such a beautiful place, with a super tour on the non-playing day, with the best and more than abundant cuisine, and all this in a feel-good atmosphere that you spread. Thank you very, very much!"

Ruth Huber 🇨🇭

Adult man visible from waist height looking at camera and holding trophy, white background

"A big thank you to the ACO team for the organization of the World Chess Amateur Championship on the Greek island of Kos. The tournament, its realization, the complete social program as well as the entire hotel (team) had to show an enormously high quality, which absolutely justified the claim of a world championship. Also worth mentioning is the Mediterranean weather on Kos, which will remain positively in the memory with many hours of sunshine. I am already looking forward to next year, to participate in this great tournament, to meet the Greek sun as well as the food and the nice people I met."

Marco Siebarth 🇩🇪

"The seminars and even more the individual game analyses of GM Z. Lanka were a real highlight! His enthusiasm, his lively way of lecturing and last but not least his untiring willingness to be available to everyone (and in every free moment!) for questions and game analysis was extraordinary for me! But one does not only profit from his enormous chess knowledge, but he conveys to one the enthusiasm and passion without which chess is unthinkable. Chess is unthinkable. With my 67 years I felt "chess-wise" 50 years younger!"

Henryk Wiktor 🇫🇷

"Dear chess friends. I am very very happy with the nine days at the World Championship in Crete, with everything. A great chess atmosphere, great chess players, great people and great friends. Thank you for organizing this perfect event and also for the blitz tournaments! I enjoyed them very much! Thanks again for so much chess, chess and more chess in Greek islands! Do more!"

Antonio Maset 🇦🇷

Find new chess friends from over 60 different nations!

We connect people with the passion for chess and travel. There are no language barriers here. Even though people from over 60 different nations have taken part in our World Chess Championships.

Many participants have been coming back again and again for years and became friends. The atmosphere is always very friendly - on and off the chessboard.

Our international team, who speaks many different languages, will assist you prior or during the events with anything you might need.

Three older male persons in a restaurant are looking at a chessboard, which is on a wooden table

At an award ceremony, the middle person raises his arms in the air, three bystanders smile

ACO World Chess Championships

Since 2012 we have been organizing World Chess Championships for amateurs and senior chess players. Register today!

See all Events

About the Amateur Chess Organization

We have brought together over 2800 chess players from 60 countries. Learn more about the Amateur Chess Organization (ACO).

About us

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Results of our previous events

You can always check the results of any of the tournaments we have organized since 2012. Access the link below to see the results and winners.

See results

How to become part of our chess family

Make three moves to your next chess vacation.
(Attention: The number of places are limited!)

Book your hotel room

Choose an event and select your preferred room type via the online booking form.

Register for the tournament

Pay the entry fee in order to complete your registration.

Book your flight to Greece

If you need assistance to find a good flight we are glad to help.

Next event:

Choose an event and join our chess family!

See all events

Two isolated chess pieces in front of a graphic, partly transparent chess pattern

ACO 2025 World Amateur Chess Championship

Become World Champion
in your rating group!

Play chess and have your holiday too. — Amateur Chess Organization

The 5-star chess experience for amateur and senior players.