If you are looking for a chess club in Malta, start with the clubs listed by the Malta Chess Federation: Swieqi Chess Club in St Julian’s (a permanent venue with classes for adults and juniors), 65th Square (meeting at a café in Ta’ Xbiex), FD Chess Academy in Mosta, XY Chess (classes and international tournaments) and the volunteer-run ChessBuddies & Mates. For relaxed games, the federation’s free Knight Shifts café meet-ups ran through summer 2026, and rated tournaments run through the year. Message a club before your first visit; most welcome complete beginners.
This guide covers each club, the casual options, tournaments and ratings, and how to walk in as a newcomer without feeling awkward. Chess is also one of the easiest ways to meet people in Malta: our guide to places to meet people in Malta has more ideas like it.
Chess club Malta options compared
| Club or organiser | Where | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Swieqi Chess Club | 12 Edward Debono Street, St Julian’s | Regular club nights, adult and junior classes, tournaments |
| 65th Square | Meet-ups at Uncle Matt’s Kitchen, Ta’ Xbiex | A relaxed club in a café setting |
| FD Chess Academy | FD Sports Hub, Mosta | Structured training, beginner to advanced |
| XY Chess | Various venues | Weekly classes, private tuition, international opens |
| ChessBuddies & Mates | Various places in Malta and Gozo | Junior-focused community, workshops, events |
| University of Malta Chess Club | Msida campus | Students |
Details are from the Malta Chess Federation’s clubs and organisers page. Meeting days and fees are set by each club and change by season, so ask the club directly.
Swieqi Chess Club
Swieqi Chess Club is the closest thing Malta has to a classic club house. Founded in December 2016, it moved into a permanent venue in 2019, and the federation describes a playing hall with 46 seats, 14 electronic boards that record and broadcast games live, air conditioning and a refreshments area. It runs tournaments, events and classes for both adults and juniors, plus social play.
Why it suits newcomers: it is in St Julian’s, close to where many expats live, and the mix of social play and classes means you are not thrown straight into serious tournament games. Ask about the club night that is most social, and whether there is a fee for visitors.
65th Square, FD Chess Academy, XY Chess and ChessBuddies
65th Square meets at Uncle Matt’s Kitchen on the Ta’ Xbiex seafront. A café setting makes it a gentle first step if a formal club feels intimidating; you can order a coffee, watch a few games and ask to join the next one.
FD Chess Academy, based at the FD Sports Hub in Mosta, focuses on training for beginners through to advanced players, including support for local and international tournaments. It is a good option if you want to improve properly, not just play.
XY Chess runs weekly classes year-round, private tuition and international events, including the Malta International Open, a spring festival and a team league. If you are visiting Malta and want a serious tournament, their calendar is worth checking.
ChessBuddies & Mates is a volunteer-led community focused on junior chess, with tournaments, school initiatives and workshops at different venues in Malta and Gozo. Parents looking for a club for their kids should start here or with the junior classes at the clubs above.
Casual chess: Knight Shifts and cafés
Not everyone wants a club membership. In summer 2026 the Malta Chess Federation ran Knight Shifts, a series of nine free, casual meet-ups every other Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm, from 17 June to 7 October. They rotated between Café Riche in Birgu, Marilu’s in Siġġiewi and Hole in the Wall in Sliema. The federation brought the boards, food and drinks were available to buy, and all ages and levels were welcome to drop in and leave when they liked.
The 2026 series has finished. Keep an eye on the federation’s Knight Shifts page and news for a 2027 edition. Between seasons, you have three easy options:
- Board game cafés, which usually have chess sets. Our guide to the board game café Malta scene lists them.
- The online community of chess players in Malta, where people post casual games and meet-ups.
- Your own table: bring a travel set to a seafront café and invite someone to play.
Tournaments and ratings
The Malta Chess Federation organises the national championships and FIDE-rated events in classical, rapid and blitz, and results are sent to FIDE for official ratings. Its 2026 calendar has included the national championship, junior rapid and blitz championships, open rapid and blitz championships and a freestyle rapid event, alongside youth events and memorial tournaments.
- Want a rating? Play in a FIDE-rated open. Rapid and blitz events are a friendlier start than long classical games.
- Visiting Malta? Check the federation’s events page before you book; an open tournament is a great way to meet local players.
- Team play: clubs enter league events, which is the fastest way to become part of a club.
Chess for kids, students and families
Much of Maltese chess activity is junior chess, so parents have good options. Swieqi Chess Club runs junior classes, FD Chess Academy trains young players up to competition level, XY Chess runs weekly classes, and ChessBuddies & Mates focuses on junior players with school initiatives and workshops. The federation also runs national junior rapid and blitz championships, which give children a clear goal once they have learnt the basics.
University students can look up the University of Malta’s chess club, which takes part in local events. And if you are an adult beginner, do not be put off by a room full of twelve-year-olds: playing juniors is humbling, but they are often the most enthusiastic opponents in the room, and many clubs keep separate adult sessions.
Your first visit: what to expect
- Message first. Ask which evening is best for newcomers and whether there is a visitor fee.
- Arrive early and introduce yourself to whoever looks like they are organising.
- Say your level honestly. “Casual, maybe 1200 online” is more useful than “I’m okay”.
- Learn the etiquette: shake hands before and after, touch a piece and you move it, press the clock with the hand you moved with, and stay quiet near games in progress.
- Do not worry about losing. Everyone loses to the club regulars at first. Ask your opponent to go through the game with you afterwards; most love to.
The honest downsides
Malta’s chess scene is small. That is part of its charm (you will know half the room within a month), but it also means fewer weekly options than in a big city, and some clubs lean towards juniors. Parking near the St Julian’s and Ta’ Xbiex venues is tight in the evening, so take the bus or walk. And club nights can be quiet, focused affairs: if you want chatter with your chess, the café meet-ups are a better fit.
Chess as a social life
Chess clubs are quietly one of the best places to make friends in Malta. You meet the same people every week, there is always something to talk about, and conversation flows after the game rather than during it. Players range from teenagers to retirees, and from Maltese locals to expats from every continent, so it also cuts across the usual expat bubble.
If you are in your twenties or early thirties, our guide to social clubs in Malta for young adults has more options. If you like this kind of structured hobby, see our list of clubs to join in Malta, and for evenings with a similar mix of thinking and talking, try a quiz night in Malta. Prefer something outdoors? Try one of our photography walks in Malta.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free web app for meeting people in person, starting in Malta: a host posts a plan at a public place, such as a seafront café with a chess board, sets the time and seats, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins from the people who ask with a short note. Open MeetNow and see the plans in Malta.
Featured photo: wooden chess pieces with the king in focus. Photo: Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Malta Chess Federation.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is there a chess club in Malta for adults?
Yes. The Malta Chess Federation lists several clubs and organisers, including Swieqi Chess Club in St Julian’s, which runs classes for adults and juniors, and 65th Square, which meets at a café in Ta’ Xbiex. Contact the club before your first visit.
Where can I play casual chess in Malta?
The Malta Chess Federation ran free Knight Shifts meet-ups in cafés in Birgu, Siġġiewi and Sliema in summer 2026, open to all ages and levels. Board game cafés and the Chess in Malta community online are other options between seasons.
How do I get a chess rating in Malta?
Play in FIDE-rated tournaments organised in Malta, such as the federation’s open rapid and blitz events. Results are submitted to FIDE, which calculates the rating.
Do I need to be good at chess to join a club?
No. Clubs welcome beginners, and most have players of every level. Say you are new when you arrive and you will usually be paired with someone at a similar level.
Is there a chess club in Gozo?
The federation lists ChessBuddies and Mates as running activities at various locations in Malta and Gozo. Check the federation’s clubs page for the latest options.
