Playing Chess in Montpellier: Clubs and History

Échecs Club Montpellier was founded in 1978 by Jean-Claude Loubatière and was originally called "Club Anatoly Karpov" – with two Coupe de France wins (1989 and 1997), it is one of the most successful clubs in France. This guide collects what is actually accessible in today's club scene. Where something could not be verified, it is not listed here.

Chess clubs in Montpellier

Échecs Club Montpellier (ECM) is the largest and most tradition-rich club in the city, with two active locations. A dash means the club does not publish the time permanently, so it's worth checking the club's website.

The complete list of all member clubs is kept by the Fédération Française des Échecs. Please check the club's website for current dates – game nights regularly shift during school holidays.

A note for a first visit: the ECM's headquarters are in the historic Tour de la Babote, a medieval defensive tower on Boulevard Victor Hugo – one of the more unusual club addresses in France. The second location, in the Jardins d'Ô in the La Mounéda district, extends the offering beyond the city center.

Playing chess outdoors: chess tables and meeting spots

A municipal directory of public outdoor chess tables could not be confirmed for Montpellier. The most reliable way to find an open game remains contacting one of the two ECM locations directly before a visit.

Anyone wanting to play on the go is best served by a foldable travel set that fits in any bag and is ready to use at almost any table.

Tournaments and open events

The ECM won the Coupe de France d'échecs des clubs in 1989 and 1997 and reached the final in 2000 and 2007 – one of the most successful club records in the French cup competition. Over the years, its first team has featured top international players such as Alexandr Fier, Nana Dzagnidze, Axel Smith, Glenn Flear and Aleksander Mista. Today the club competes with a youth team in Nationale 1, the second-highest French league.

Anyone entering a tournament for the first time should know beforehand what equipment is required. The dimensions are not a matter of taste but are regulated – you can read up on them in our article on official tournament chess standards.

Chess for children and teenagers

Under the presidency of Sylviane Milliet, the ECM deliberately shifted its focus from the top team to promoting youth and women's chess – since the 2016/17 season, the club no longer fields a team at the top national level, but instead competes at a high level with its own girls', mixed and youth teams. The club also introduces chess to several hundred children in Montpellier, among other things as a tool to support learning at school.

Getting started at home takes very little at first: a board of sensible size and pieces that smaller hands can grip easily. Which square size goes with which king height is explained in our article on chessboard size.

Montpellier and chess history

In 1978, Jean-Claude Loubatière – who would later also organize the French Olympiad team's training camp in Nantes – founded the forerunner of today's club under the programmatic name "Club Anatoly Karpov", named after the reigning world champion of the time. In 1994, the club adopted its current name, Montpellier Échecs. Its greatest sporting successes came with the two Coupe de France titles in 1989 and 1997, achieved by a team featuring internationally titled players.

The change under Sylviane Milliet in the 2010s marks a deliberate change of course: away from pure elite competition and towards a broader social role for chess in Montpellier – a development that today connects the club more closely with the city's community than a purely competitive team ever could.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I play chess in Montpellier without a membership?

Most easily by contacting Échecs Club Montpellier directly, either at its headquarters in the Tour de la Babote or at the La Mounéda location in the Jardins d'Ô.

Which Montpellier chess club is suitable for beginners?

Échecs Club Montpellier has deliberately focused on promoting youth and women's chess and introduces chess to several hundred children in the city.

Are there public outdoor chess tables in Montpellier?

A municipally documented setup could not be confirmed. The more reliable route is contacting Échecs Club Montpellier directly.

What sporting successes has the club celebrated in its history?

Échecs Club Montpellier won the Coupe de France d'échecs des clubs in 1989 and 1997 and reached the final in 2000 and 2007.

From Karpov to today: Montpellier chess tradition you can hold in your hands

Anyone who has played with borrowed equipment at a Montpellier club evening quickly notices the difference to a well-made set of their own. For a regular game night, our handcrafted wooden sets are a good fit – solid wood, visible grain, pieces with noticeable weight. If you would like to honor the history of the former "Club Anatoly Karpov", you will find boards with character and patina among our collector's pieces. And for a gift to a club member after a tournament win, it's worth looking at our engraved sets: a dedication in the wood outlasts any trophy. Soho Chess is a Berlin brand. Take a look around.

Read more about chess culture in Nantes and in the German capital in our articles Playing chess in Nantes and Chess and Berlin.