The Annual ECU General Assembly was hosted by the Georgian Chess Federation in Batumi on 10 October 2025 under excellent conditions.
Forty-three federations were present.
The ECU General Assembly was greeted by the President of the Georgian Chess Federation, Mr Akaki Iashvili, the President of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), Mr Arkady Dvorkovich. The President of ECU Mr. Zurab Azmairapashvili welcomed all participants.
Main information and decisions
- The ECU annual report development plan was presented. ECU has secured new sponsors for 2025, which will provide benefits for the organisation and its members.
- Tommy Tang, CEO of SenseRobot, introduced the next-gen chess robot at the ECU General Assembly 2025, showing how AI is bringing chess to a new generation of players
- ECU has launched more than 30 webinars with over 500 participants through the innovative ECU Training Hub in the first six months of its operation.
- ECU TV began operating in October 2024 and has since covered eight major European Chess Championships, reaching a total of 200,000 unique viewers.
- The ECU Board was unanimously discharged for the year 2024.
- The ECU GA decided to create a task committee to develop regulations for Associate Member and the application of the Isle of Man or any other interest organisation will be discussed at the General Assembly.
Tournament Rules
- The General Assembly decided to add one more day to the schedule of the European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship and to make the European Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship an official event. For the year 2026, it is up to the Polish Chess Federation to decide whether to include the additional day.
- The European Team Championship Regulations will be amended to allow the organisers to add a second team, and a third team only if there is an ECU decision, in case the number of teams is odd.
- The European Junior (U20) Chess Championship will be included in the official ECU Programme from 2027 as a separate championship, with direct titles and qualifications for the FIDE World Junior Chess Championship. The championship may also be organised in 2026 if time and calendar permits.
European Chess Championships
- The European Senior Chess Championship 2027 was awarded to Chotowa, Poland, following resignation of Terme Catez, Slovenia.
The bids of Chotowa for European School Chess Championship 2027 and European Youth Team Chess Championship 2027 were rejected by the ECU Board due to the rooms capacity of the proposed hosting hotels. - The ECU General Assembly authorized the ECU Board to make the final decisions about the following tournaments: the European School Chess Championship 2027 and the European Youth Team Chess Championship 2027 with consultation and recognition to all proposed venues.
ECU Commissions
- ECU Arbiters’ Council: Chair Takis Nikolopoulos presented the Council’s progress, including new appointment regulations and the introduction of Fair Play arbiters from 2026. He thanked organisers and his team, emphasizing the need for fair working conditions. President Azmaiparashvili praised the high quality of ECU arbiters.
- ECU Educational Commission: Chair Jesper Hall reported successful training programmes, with five new courses and 74 graduates this year and over 1,000 in the past decade. Cooperation with FIDE ensures certification, while new initiatives like the Ambassador system strengthen grassroots involvement. The ECU Hub continues to enhance education and collaboration.
- ECU Events Commission: Chair Paris Klerides highlighted improvements in event quality, standardization, and youth engagement. The new Best Practices Manual and future for digital innovation and eco-friendly events were presented. The Commission remains committed to supporting Federations and ensuring transparency and excellence in ECU events.
- ECU Trainers Commission: Chair Ivan Sokolov announced the completion of the Trainers’ Syllabus and launch of the ECU Academy 2025-2026, supported by the FIDE Development Fund. The program trains young players across all Federations, with three new lecturers joining the team. Partnerships with the Iceland Chess Federation and ASEAN expand ECU’s global reach.
- ECU Women’s Commission: Chair Antoaneta Stefanova showcased projects empowering women in chess, including free seminars, the Advocate Program, and the European Women’s Chess Trophy. Partnerships with Cap d’Agde and London Chess Classics promote visibility and participation. She encouraged delegates to support equal opportunities and use academy spots for girls.
The next ECU General Assembly will take place in July 2026 according to the ECU rules.
