Mar del Plata, Argentina, has a rich history of chess tournaments, including their international chess tournament and open tournament. There is also an annual city tournament, which had its first edition in 1946, and reached its 62nd edition in 2007.
The international tournament started off in 1928, but only in the period from 1941 to 1970 was it a truly international tournament with considerable reputation. After 1970, only seven international tournaments have been played.[1] The 1951, 1954, 1969 and 2001 editions were zonal tournaments. There was also a zonal tournament for women in Mar del Plata, in 1969, won by the Brazilian Ruth Cardoso. Silvia Kot from Argentina placed second.
In 1967 the first edition of the open tournament was organized. In 1969 it became an annual event.
The Mar del Plata Variation of the King's Indian Defence (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 0–0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0–0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7) is named after a game played in 1953 at the 16th international tournament between Miguel Najdorf and Svetozar Gligorić.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)