Francisco Vallejo Pons is a Spanish chess Grandmaster. Born in 1982, he won the Under-18 World Chess Championship in 2000, just two years after achieving the Grandmaster title at age 16. Vallejo Pons has competed in numerous chess olympiads, earning several silver and bronze medals. He has also successfully represented Spain in European team championships.
Vallejo Pons' most prominent achievement is likely his victory at the 2013 European Individual Chess Championship. He has also won multiple Spanish championships and held high rankings in global tournaments. Beyond competitive play, he has contributed to Spanish chess media, commentating on World Championship matches and collaborating on various publications.
Vallejo Pons has faced tax issues with the Spanish government over money won in online poker. His involvement in poker was attributed to chess being a less lucrative profession. However, after several years, he announced his withdrawal from professional poker and his focus on chess.