The first Guernsey International Chess Festival was held in October 1975 at the Old Government House Hotel.

In 1979 the event moved to the Ronnie Ronalde’s St Martins Hotel where it remained until 1994 when it moved to the Peninsula Hotel where it was held until 2019.

In 1983 a holiday tournament was held alongside the main open tournament for the first time and the two tournaments have been held every year since. In 1989 a total of 226 players participated in both tournaments.

In 2022 the event will be held at the St. James concert and assembly hall in St. Peter Port.