The European Union Youth Chess Championship 2026 concluded in Roznov pod Radhostem in the Czech Republic.
The last rounds were full of fights and tension. In category Boys U8 took the first place Kalin Kotsev (BUL), the second place Majus Marcinkevicius (LTU) and the third Artur Zych (POL). In category Girls U8 took the first place Sophia Kaliskami (GRE), the second place Greta Flora Banvolgyi (HUN) and the third Ioana Onica (ROU).
Champion EU in category Boys U10 has become Vakaris Drapas (LTU), silver medal took Stefan Grigorescu (ROU) and the third place took Aleksandr Undusk (EST). In category Girls U10 has won Monika Guziana (POL), second place took Maja Cholewa (POL) and the third place took Sabina-Teodora Dutcovici (ROU). In category Boys U12 has won Sergejs Filipovs (LAT), second place took Jindrich Trejbal (CZE) and the third place took Georgi Koev (BUL). Champion EU Girls U12 has become Niya Malcheva (BUL), the second place took Agnieszka Slusarczyk (POL) and the third place took Helena Taradajko (POL).
In category Boys U14 has won Boyd Leenen (NED), the second place took Julius Mikolavicius (LTU) and the third place took Razvan-George Parvu (ROU). In category Girls U14 Champion EU has become Aleksandra Pehlivanova (BUL), the second place took Olga Debowska (POL) and the third finished Amelia Janaszak (POL).
Players who took first three places in each of categories got a cup and diploma. Every participant of EUYCC got a medal. All eight champions EU are leaving Roznov pod Radhostem with a notebook! The next five players in each category also got valuable prizes. Every player got a T-Shirt with a logo of EUYCC. The prizes were given to the participants by the director of the EU Championship, Mr. Zdenek Fiala and the representative of the Slovak Chess Federation, Mr. Karol Pekar. EU Youth Chess Championship 2026 under the patronage of the ECU was organized by Sachovy klub Svetla nad Sazavou in cooperation with the Czech Chess Federation. Boys and girls have played in the same tournament. Eventually boys and girls were evaluated separately. Championship had 132 players from 19 federations. All games were on-line transmitted.
Young players have been pleased by awarding best game of each round. Thanks to the performance during the last four rounds these players were awarded: Andrii Stakhurskyi (ESP), Daniel Sava (ROU), Helena Taradajko (POL), Boyd Leenen (NED), Yana Lozanova (BUL), Klaudia Cizikova (CZE), Olaf Guzdziol (LUX), Anna Hrckova (CZE), Nikolai Bessonov (CZE), Artjoms Bakass (LAT), Nikola Malchev (BUL), Amelia Janaszak (POL), Sophia Kaliskami (GRE), Aleksandr Undusk (EST), Michal Vanek (CZE), Aleksandra Pehlivanova (BUL).
On Monday, August 24th continued additional programme with second simultaneous game against IM Petr Pisk. Nine participants of our championship, including parents, had 35 minutes against 35 minutes on the clocks of IM Pisk. Finally IM Pisk won 8-1. The draws were made by Pavel Lozanov (BUL) a Frederik Olejnik (SVK). For all participants and accompanying persons organizers had prepared chess (simultaneous games with IM Petr Pisk, blitz tournament) and non-chess leisure time activities.
Participants of the championship had available many leisure time activities. In the hotel they could use swimming pool, wellness, sauna, playground, etc. On the official website organizers placed photo gallery from tournament and other activities.
Eventually I would like to thank all players for their performance and fair play, all parents and coaches for cooperation, arbiters for running the tournament and all cooperators for their work. A big thank goes to the Zlin Region and the city of Roznov pod Radhostem for their financial support of the 2026 EU Youth Championship.
Hope you enjoyed together with us this championship and believe to see us again the next year – the term is August, 10th-19th, 2027!
Text by: Zdenek Fiala, director
Sachovy klub Svetla nad Sazavou
