Sa Peixateria in Ibiza's La Marina became a meeting point for chess enthusiasts on Saturday, September 19, when 10-year-old Spanish chess player Marc Barceló Melnyk took part in a special exhibition organised by the Asociación de Vecinos de la Marina.

The afternoon began with a blitz tournament before Barceló took on multiple opponents simultaneously, playing from a single position against several boards occupied by chess enthusiasts of different ages.

Chess Comes to La Marina

The event was organised by the Asociación de Vecinos de la Marina in collaboration with Ibiza's island chess delegation.

The programme began with a blitz tournament, giving local players an opportunity to compete before the main exhibition.

Barceló then became the focus of the afternoon, facing multiple players at the same time in a simultaneous exhibition.

A Young Player With World Titles

Barceló, who was born in Tarragona in 2016, is already a Candidate Master, one of FIDE's official chess titles.

His international results include world titles in different age categories and time controls.

In December 2025, he won the World U9 Blitz Championship in Antalya, Türkiye, while taking silver in the U9 Rapid Championship. FIDE officially lists him as the U9 Open Blitz champion from that tournament.

Another World Championship Medal in 2026

Barceló added another world title in April 2026.

At the World U10 Championships in Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia, he won the U10 Rapid World Championship after scoring 9.5 points from 11 games.

He also took the silver medal in the U10 Blitz competition. The Russian player Fedor André Sidelnikov won the blitz title.

His current achievements therefore include world titles in U9 Blitz and U10 Rapid, together with world silver medals in U9 Rapid and U10 Blitz.

Candidate Master at Nine

Barceló also attracted attention for earning the Candidate Master title at a remarkably young age.

The Catalan Chess Federation reported that he became the second-youngest player in history to receive the CM title, achieving it at nine years and two months.

FIDE's title system awards the Candidate Master designation to players who meet the necessary rating and performance requirements under its regulations.

A Rapid Rise Through Junior Chess

Barceló learned to play chess at a young age and quickly progressed from playing recreationally to competing internationally.

By 2025 he had already won national junior titles before establishing himself on the international stage.

His results have continued to develop through 2026, including appearances in strong open tournaments against considerably more experienced players.

Competing Against Stronger Players

Barceló has also been taking part in open tournaments where he faces adult players and titled opponents.

At the 2026 Sants International Open in Barcelona, for example, he was paired against French Grandmaster Jules Moussard in the second round. The tournament record lists Barceló with a FIDE rating of 2,220 for the event. Moussard won that game.

Such events provide experience beyond age-category competitions and expose him to a wider range of playing styles.

Bringing Elite Junior Chess to Ibiza

The exhibition at sa Peixateria gave Ibiza chess players the opportunity to meet and play against a young competitor with several international championship results.

Playing simultaneous games also offers spectators a different way to experience competitive chess, as the exhibition player must move between boards and respond to several opponents during the same session.

The event brought that format to the heart of La Marina.

Local Chess Community Takes Part

The collaboration with Ibiza's island chess delegation reflects the existing local interest in developing chess activities on the island.

The event was open to chess enthusiasts of different ages, with the simultaneous exhibition following the earlier blitz competition.

It also provided an opportunity for local players to compete in a relaxed setting before watching a young international-level competitor play.

More Than One Type of Chess

The afternoon combined two different forms of competitive chess.

Blitz is played at a much faster time control, placing a greater emphasis on quick decision-making and time management.

Simultaneous exhibitions are different, with one player moving from board to board and playing several opponents during the same session.

The sa Peixateria programme therefore combined a competitive tournament with a public chess exhibition.

Current FIDE Standing

Barceló holds the Candidate Master title and has a FIDE identification number of 523009918.

Recent player records list his standard rating in the 2,100s, with higher ratings in rapid and blitz. Ratings fluctuate as tournament results are recorded, so they should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent figure.

A Young Player With an International Profile

Although Barceló is only 10, his competition schedule already includes national championships, international age-group events and open tournaments.

His 2025 and 2026 world championship results have established a record across both rapid and blitz formats, while his Candidate Master title places him among the titled players registered with FIDE.

Marc Barceló in Ibiza

The exhibition at sa Peixateria offered local chess players an opportunity to compete directly against one of Spain's successful young junior players.

The event also brought competitive chess into the public setting of La Marina, combining a local tournament with an exhibition designed for spectators and participants.

A Growing Chess Story

Marc Barceló's visit to Ibiza comes as his chess career continues to develop.

At 10 years old, he already has a World U9 Blitz title, a World U10 Rapid title, two world silver medals from those age categories and the FIDE Candidate Master title.

His exhibition at sa Peixateria added another chapter to that young career, this time in front of the Ibiza chess community.

The Ibiza Exhibition

The September 19 event was both a local chess gathering and an opportunity to see an internationally successful junior player in action.

Organised by the Asociación de Vecinos de la Marina with the island chess delegation, it began with blitz competition and continued with Barceló's simultaneous exhibition against multiple local players.

For the participants and spectators in La Marina, it offered an afternoon of chess that connected Ibiza's local scene with one of Spain's most successful young junior competitors.