The French Chess Championships played in the Alps, from Chamonix 1927 to Alpe d'Huez
Updated 18 October 2026 · Échecs en Savoie, independent guide
The French Chess Championship has been played at least thirteen times in the French Alps, from Chamonix in 1927 to Alpe d'Huez in 2023 and 2024. The Savoie resorts (Courchevel, Val Thorens, Méribel, Val-d'Isère) and the towns of Chambéry, Grenoble and Aix-les-Bains have crowned champions such as Étienne Bacrot, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Marie Sebag.
French Chess Championship: an annual competition of the French Chess Federation which has awarded the title of French champion since 1923, with a women's title held, depending on the period, at the same time or separately. The venue changes regularly, and mountain resorts have often hosted it in summer.
The table of French Chess Championships in the Alps
| Year | Town or resort | Département | Champion | Women's champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | Chamonix-Mont-Blanc | Haute-Savoie | André Chéron | Marie-Jeanne Frigard |
| 1966 | Grenoble | Isère | Volf Bergraser | — |
| 1974 | Chambéry | Savoie | Jean-Claude Letzelter | — |
| 1979 | Courchevel | Savoie | Bachar Kouatly | Monique Ruck-Petit |
| 1988 | Val Thorens | Savoie | Gilles Andruet | — |
| 1994 | Chambéry | Savoie | Marc Santo-Roman | Christine Flear |
| 1998 | Méribel | Savoie | Iossif Dorfman | Christine Flear |
| 2002 | Val-d'Isère | Savoie | Étienne Bacrot | Marie Sebag |
| 2003 | Aix-les-Bains | Savoie | Étienne Bacrot | Sophie Milliet |
| 2004 | Val-d'Isère | Savoie | Joël Lautier | Almira Skripchenko |
| 2007 | Aix-les-Bains | Savoie | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Silvia Collas |
| 2023 | Alpe d'Huez | Isère | Yannick Gozzoli | Mitra Hejazipour |
| 2024 | Alpe d'Huez | Isère | Jules Moussard | Deimantė Daulytė-Cornette |
Two special cases complete this table. In 1990, the men's championship was played in Angers, but the women's tournament took place in Challes-les-Eaux, in Savoie, and crowned Julia Lebel-Arias. In 1980, the three-way play-off for the men's title, won by Jean-Luc Seret, was partly played at La Clusaz, in Haute-Savoie. In 1979, the play-off for the men's title at Courchevel was played in Lyon.
For the 2003 women's title, the sources disagree on the venue: the FFE presents Sophie Milliet as 2003 French champion in Aix-les-Bains, whereas Wikipedia places that tournament in Besançon. The detail is explained in our page on the French Championships in Aix-les-Bains.
Why so many championships in the mountains?
The French Championship is most often played in summer. Ski resorts, empty in August, then have conference halls, plenty of accommodation and a setting that attracts players accompanied by their families. For a resort, hosting the national championship is also a summer showcase. Savoie, with its big Tarentaise resorts, has been the main beneficiary: eight of the thirteen editions in the table were played there.
The great eras
1927-1974: Chamonix, Grenoble, Chambéry
The first Alpine championship was played in Chamonix in 1927, only four years after the title was created. André Chéron, one of the best French players of the interwar period, was crowned there. The next came in 1966 at Grenoble, with the title for Volf Bergraser, then Chambéry in 1974 with Jean-Claude Letzelter.
1979-1998: the age of the resorts
Courchevel in 1979, Val Thorens in 1988, Méribel in 1998: the big resorts of the Three Valleys hosted the championship in turn. Bachar Kouatly, a future FFE president, won at Courchevel; Gilles Andruet at Val Thorens; Iossif Dorfman at Méribel. Chambéry returned in 1994 with Marc Santo-Roman's win. Christine Flear, champion in 1994 and 1998, won twice on Savoie soil.
2002-2007: Val-d'Isère and Aix-les-Bains
The early 2000s were the most prosperous period: four championships in six years, two in Val-d'Isère and two in Aix-les-Bains. It was in Val-d'Isère, in 2002, that Marie Sebag won a women's title, and in Aix, in 2007, that Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won his first title. Étienne Bacrot won twice in a row, in 2002 and 2003.
2023-2024: Alpe d'Huez and the knockout format
After sixteen years without an Alpine championship, Alpe d'Huez, in Isère, hosted two editions in a row with a novelty: a knockout format between sixteen players. The full story, with the finals, is on our page on the French Championships at Alpe d'Huez. In 2025 and 2026, the championship left the mountains for Vichy.
The Alpine champions in brief
- Étienne Bacrot: two Alpine titles (Val-d'Isère 2002, Aix-les-Bains 2003), out of nine national titles won between 1999 and 2026.
- Christine Flear: two Alpine titles (Chambéry 1994, Méribel 1998).
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave: first title in Aix-les-Bains in 2007, at sixteen and a half.
- Marie Sebag: French champion in Val-d'Isère in 2002.
- Jules Moussard: second title at Alpe d'Huez in 2024.
How to take part in the French Championship
The tournament that awards the title is closed: it brings together players qualified by Elo rating, regional championships or invitation, depending on that year's regulations. Around it, the FFE and organisers often offer opens available to any licensed player, which let you play in the same hall as the elite. To understand the different formats (Swiss-system open, round-robin or knockout), see the Palais des Échecs guide to the different tournament formats.
And to play this season near you, see our calendar of tournaments in Savoie and Haute-Savoie.
Frequently asked questions
How many French Chess Championships have been played in the Alps?
At least thirteen editions of the French Championship were played in the French Alps between 1927 and 2024, eight of them in Savoie. To these can be added the 1990 women's tournament in Challes-les-Eaux and part of the 1980 play-off at La Clusaz.
Who is the French chess champion?
The 2026 championship, played in Vichy, was won by Étienne Bacrot in the men's event and by Sophie Milliet in the women's, according to FIDE.
Has the French Chess Championship been played in Val-d'Isère?
Yes, twice: in 2002 (Étienne Bacrot and Marie Sebag) and in 2004 (Joël Lautier and Almira Skripchenko).
How can I take part in the French Chess Championship?
The main tournament is reserved for players who have qualified or been invited under FFE regulations. The opens held in parallel are open to holders of an A licence.