The European Schools Chess Championship 2016 finished yesterday in Halkidiki, Greece, with participation of more than 250 players from over 20 European federations divided in 6 age categories: U7, U9, U11, U13, U15 and U17.
In Open U17 Trubchaninov Timur (RUS 2183) became the Champion with 7.5 points. Second place went to Turkish player Erdogan Anil Berk (1932)with 7 points, while the female player and one of the most promising Greek young players WFM Avramidou Anastasia (2240) took bronze with 6 points, who in the same time became the best female player in the group.
Second place went to Tishova Svetlana from Russia (1956) who scored 5 points, while bronze medal went to Micoogullari Lara (TUR 1637) with 4.5 points.
Keinanen Toivo (FIN 2218) triumphed in section Open U15 with 7 points. Second place was tied by two Turkish players with 6.5 points, but according to the tie-breaks silver went to FM Ozen Deniz (TUR 2212) while bronze went to his compatriot Kesgin Halit Kaan (2027).
Martinovici Ilie (MDA 2022) won in Open U13 group with 8.5 points. Second playce went to Karaahmetoglu Ege (TUR 1928) with 6.5 points, while Malikov Farid (AZE) came third with 6 points.
Can Isik (TUR 2072) became the Champion in category Open U11 with 8 points. Suleymanli Aydin (AZE 2089) took silver medal with 7.5 points, and bronze medal went to Caberoglu Arda (TUR 1657) with 6.5 points.
In Open U9 category Ozkan Taha (TUR 1523) took victory with 7 points, while his compatriot Saridag Omer Melih (1488) scored the same points, but due to worse tie-break got the silver medal. Bronze went to Polish player Kejna Piotr (1428).
In the youngest Open category Mammadov Ziya (1190) from Azerbaijan triumphed and became the Champion with 8 points. Second place went to Royal Shreyas from England, and the third place went to Vetokhin Savva (1444) from Russia.
WFM Obolentseva Alexandra (RUS 2338) justified the role of the top seed in the Girls U15 category and eventually triumphed with 7.5 points. Silver went to Ayan Bengu Sena (TUR 1733) with 6.5 points, while bronze went to Mammadova Susan (AZE 1768) with 6 points.
Girls in the category U13 played Round Robin tournament, and after 9 rounds Afanasieva Alexandra (RUS 1947) won with 8 points. Second place went to Rzali Sabina (AZE 1727) with 7 points, while Kaygisiz Ilayda (TUR 1548) came third with 6.5 points.
Another top seed in the Girls category won the Championship, this time Zvereva Margarita (1747) from Russia in category Girls U11. She scored 7.5 points, a full point ahead of second and third Bondareva Daria (RUS 1733) and Ince Safiye Oyku (TUR 1513) respectively.
Shvedova Alexandra (RUS 1389) triumphed in Girls U9 section with 8 points. Silver went to Ivanova Dilyana (BUL 1391) and Gadasi Noam (ISR 1346) came third both with 6.5 points.
The only player in the whole Championship who managed to win all the games and make the perfect score is Russian player Svergina Sofya who triupmhed in the youngest Girls section with amazing 9/9! Aslan Ezgi Selen from Turkey finished second with 6.5 points, while Kusakina Uliana came third with 6 points.
The closing ceremony was attended by the ECU Secretary General Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou and ECU Educational Commission Secretary Alexander Kostyev.
The Championship took place in Kallithea, Halkidiki/Greece, 16-26 June, 2016, in organization of the European Chess Union and the International School Chess Union.
All the winners in each category got trophies and special prizes, 4-6 place got medals and chess gifts, while the organizers also provided 10 special as well as 3 team prizes.