Chess clubs in Haute-Savoie: Annecy, Annemasse, Thonon, Évian and the Faucigny
Updated 18 October 2026 · Échecs en Savoie, independent guide
Haute-Savoie has eleven chess clubs affiliated to the French Chess Federation, more than Savoie. For a chess club in Annecy, the affiliated address is the Cercle d'Échecs de l'Agglomération Annécienne, which plays in Cran-Gevrier in Nationale 3. The département's largest club is that of the Annemasse basin (CABE), in Nationale 2, with 190 licensed players in October 2026.
The data below comes from the list of clubs in the Haute-Savoie committee and from each club's page on the FFE website, surveyed on 18 October 2026 (licences for the 2026-2027 season, still being renewed). Opening hours and subscriptions should be checked on each club's website.
Table of chess clubs in Haute-Savoie
| Club (FFE name) | Venue | A + B | Team league |
|---|---|---|---|
| CE du Bassin Annemassien - CABE | Ambilly | 69 + 121 = 190 | Nationale 2 |
| Club d'Echecs du Faucigny | Thyez and Saint-Jeoire | 77 + 3 = 80 | Nationale 2 |
| Club d'Echecs de Veigy-Foncenex | Veigy-Foncenex | 86 + 2 = 88 | Nationale 4 |
| Cercle d'Echecs de l'Agglomération Annécienne | Cran-Gevrier (Annecy) | 65 + 12 = 77 | Nationale 3 |
| Cercle d'Echecs d'Evian | Évian-les-Bains | 46 + 18 = 64 | Nationale 4 |
| MONT BLANC ECHECS | Sallanches and Domancy | 21 + 33 = 54 | Nationale 4 |
| Thonon Echecs | Thonon-les-Bains | 15 + 35 = 50 | Regional |
| Cercle d'Echecs Usses et Rhone | Frangy | 17 + 6 = 23 | Nationale 4 |
| Excenevex Leman Echecs - XLE | Excenevex | 21 + 0 = 21 | Regional |
| Alex Echecs | Alex | 9 + 0 = 9 | Regional |
| Chess Club des Aravis | Saint-Jean-de-Sixt | 3 + 0 = 3 | Regional |
Nearly 660 licensed players, two clubs in Nationale 2, one in Nationale 3 and five in Nationale 4: Haute-Savoie is one of the most active départements in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes league, helped by its proximity to Geneva and Lake Geneva.
Annecy: the Cercle d'Échecs de l'Agglomération Annécienne
Cercle d'Échecs de l'Agglomération Annécienne: Annecy's chess club, affiliated to the FFE, which plays at the Maison des Sports, 12 chemin des Grèves in Cran-Gevrier (part of Annecy). First team in Nationale 3, juniors in Nationale 2. Website: echecs-annecy.fr.
This is the answer to the question “where can I play chess in Annecy?”. The club welcomes competitors and beginners, and its juniors play in Nationale 2, a sign of a school that works. It also organises internal championships and an Easter open, listed in our tournament calendar. Lesson times are published on echecs-annecy.fr. For a town-by-town view, see also the list of Annecy chess clubs in the Palais des Échecs directory.
Around the lake, Alex Échecs plays at the Espace 123 in Alex and the tiny Chess Club des Aravis is based in Saint-Jean-de-Sixt.
The Genevois: Annemasse, Veigy-Foncenex and Frangy
CE du Bassin Annemassien (CABE)
The CABE is the largest club in Haute-Savoie by number of licensed players. Its venue is at 8 rue du Jura in Ambilly, in the Annemasse conurbation. It fields teams in Nationale 2 in the adult, junior and women's leagues. It is also a leading organiser: Annemasse International Festival, the Maurice David Open and, every summer, the La Plagne International Festival. Website: cabechecs.fr.
Club d'Échecs de Veigy-Foncenex
Based in the François-Perillat primary school, the Veigy-Foncenex club has almost only A licences, which reflects a strong competitive orientation. First team in Nationale 4, juniors in Nationale 2. It organises an annual rapid tournament. Website: echecs-veigy.fr.
Cercle d'Échecs Usses et Rhône
Based in Frangy, between Annecy and Bellegarde, this club plays in Nationale 4. Website: legambitfrangypan.wordpress.com.
The Chablais: Thonon, Évian and Excenevex
Three clubs share the French shore of Lake Geneva, and the Palais des Échecs directory groups them on its page on the Chablais clubs around Thonon.
- Thonon Échecs: Maison des associations et du bénévolat, 18 avenue de la Grangette. Many B licences, so a club open to casual play and rapid games. Website: thonon-echecs.fr.
- Cercle d'Échecs d'Évian: Maison des associations, nouvelle route du Stade. Nationale 4. It organises the Chablais Rapid. Website: echecs-evian.fr.
- Excenevex Léman Échecs (XLE): salle du Léman in Excenevex, registered office in Nernier. Website: cenl.fr.
The Faucigny and the Mont-Blanc area
The Club d'Échecs du Faucigny has two venues, at the Maison des associations in Thyez and in Saint-Jeoire. It plays in Nationale 2, like the CABE, with an almost entirely competitive membership. Website: echecs-faucigny.fr.
Mont Blanc Échecs brings together players from the Mont-Blanc area in Sallanches and Domancy, in Nationale 4. Its website is hosted on Google Sites.
How to choose your club in Haute-Savoie
- To aim high: CABE and Faucigny in Nationale 2, Annecy in Nationale 3.
- For a child: clubs whose juniors play in Nationale 2 (Annecy, CABE, Veigy-Foncenex) have genuine competitive coaching for young players.
- For leisure: a club with a high proportion of B licences (Thonon, CABE, Mont Blanc Échecs) welcomes many occasional players.
- To play competitively: you will need an A licence, taken out through the club. Everything is explained on our page on the chess licence.
Do you live between Annecy and Aix-les-Bains? The Savoie clubs are described on our page on chess clubs in Savoie.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I play chess in Annecy?
The FFE-affiliated club is the Cercle d'Échecs de l'Agglomération Annécienne, which plays at the Maison des Sports, 12 chemin des Grèves in Cran-Gevrier. It plays in Nationale 3. Alex Échecs, a few kilometres away, is the other nearby club.
How many chess clubs are there in Haute-Savoie?
In October 2026 the FFE lists eleven clubs in the Haute-Savoie committee, with nearly 660 licensed players. The largest is the CE du Bassin Annemassien (CABE), with 190 licensed players.
Is there a chess club in Thonon-les-Bains?
Yes, Thonon Échecs meets at the Maison des associations et du bénévolat, avenue de la Grangette. The Évian and Excenevex clubs are also in the Chablais.
Which Haute-Savoie chess club plays at the highest level?
Two clubs play in Nationale 2 of the team league for the 2026-2027 season: the CE du Bassin Annemassien (CABE) and the Club d'Échecs du Faucigny.