‹ Speakers

Leontxo García

Renowned Chess Journalist, Writer, Lecturer, and Commentator

Leontxo García is a renowned chess journalist, writer, lecturer, and commentator with a career spanning over four decades. A leading expert in chess as an educational tool, he has trained more than 30,000 teachers across 31 countries. His influence in the field has made him a sought-after speaker, including appearances at the International Conference on Thinking (ICOT) in Bilbao (2015) and Miami (2018). He currently serves as the Senior Adviser for Chess in Education at the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

His book, Ajedrez y Ciencia, pasiones mezcladas (Chess and Science: Intertwined Passions), has reached its 7th edition since its publication in 2013. As a prolific journalist, he produces a daily chess column, videos, a newsletter, and a podcast for El País, reaching an audience of 75 million readers. His extensive media career includes contributions to numerous radio shows and more than 100 television programs since 1986. Notably, he collaborated with Garry Kasparov on the TV series La Pasión del Ajedrez (1998–1999) and was the editor of Jaque magazine from 1991 to 2001.

Leontxo is widely recognized for his expertise in live commentary on top international chess tournaments. His contributions to the chess world have earned him numerous accolades, including:

  • Medal of Merit from the Spanish Government
  • Ambassador of Chess award from the Judit Polgar Foundation
  • Best Chess Journalist award from the European Chess Union
  • Inclusion in FIDE’s Golden Book, honoring his contributions to global chess development
  • Three additional FIDE awards in 2024 for journalism, educational chess, and the advancement of women in chess

Beyond journalism and education, Leontxo was also a curator for the Spanish Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2021, further solidifying his role as a cultural ambassador for chess.