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fondata il 16 nov 1920 |
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Going up the river... . In january of 1913, the "Italia Scacchistica" magazine published that eleven chess clubs joined to found a new Italian Chess Federation. Among these "founding fathers" of the Federation (that officially began on 1920 september 20th) appears the Varese's Club with Gallarate's section. Gallarate's Chess club has been settled its autonomous self-governig on 1920 november 16th, when Gallarate Chess Society was officially founded. Among the directors, in the '60 years, before that the Chess Society ceased, there was Mr. Spinelli (a famous photographer, very known in that period in Gallarate). In the 1969, Pasquale Ricciardi, born in Smirne (Turkey) from a sicilian's family, refounded and revived the deceased Society, giving it the name of Gallarate's Chess Club. The first membership card was given to Earl Corrado Agusta (Agusta's helicopter Industries). He gave enough money to support the starting of the new Chess club. In the 1971, the seat, after a short period at the "Centro della Gioventù", was established at upper floor of the famous Caffé Ranzoni (no more existing today). It was the meeting-place of middle-class persons in Gallarate. But Ricciardi - who spoke several oriental languages - lived in Iran frequently being chargé d'affaires of Agusta Helicopters Industries. Therefore the headship of the Chess Club was commited - after a short time of Franco Sbardolini's leadership - to Daniele Patrignoni, who was a famous columnist of the Prealpina daily newspaper for about forty years. Patrignoni resigned owing to his health in the '80. In the meantime the Caffé Ranzoni gave up business and the Chess Club had a new seat with the Bridge Club in Garibaldi's Place. The presidency was commited to Salvatore Benvenga who - among others matters - had to manage some removals of the seat. In the meantime, the destiny played unkind tricks so both Ricciardi and Patrignoni died in april 1996,in the space of few days. In date 1997 january 16th, the Assembly - in compliance with new federal rules that provide that a Chess Club had to be Chess Society - restored the ancient name "Società Scacchistica Gallaratese". In the Civic Library at Gallarate, in a thin collection of chess books, there is a very interesting one: "La partita d'Oggi" (The game nowadays) by Carlo Salvioli e Giuseppe Stalda. It was a gift of Romeo Galdabini, member of the Chess Society, in 1946. This date and his signature appear on the title page of the book. An other very important person for Gallarate Chess Society was Ferruccio Castiglioni, from Milan (1921-1971), engineer and manager of Pirelli Industries. He was a very good player and director of ASIGC (Italian Association of Correspondence Chess Players). Italia Scacchistica's magazine, in 1971, wrote that him was a landmark for Gallarate Chess Club of which Castiglioni was honorary member. In Gallarate Chess Club, often,the peruvian master Esteban Canal was guest. He was one of the most strong chess player of the world who lived in Italy. He died in 1981 at Cocquio Trevisago and was buried in the local cemetery. In the Gallarate Chess Society's archive there are some letters that the great Esteban Canal wrote to Pasquale Ricciardi and some pictures of him. Activities Gallarate Chess Society is one of the few Clubs where members and guests can play on chessboards inlaid on table and only with wood pieces (no plastic). It has an own good library too for its members. Since 1980, Gallarate's Chess Society is directed by Salvatore Benvenga who also created and nowadays manage these webpages. Many tournaments are organized and lessons as well. During the year the direction programs the following regular events:
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