European Union Youth U8-U14 Chess Championship concluded in Roznov pod Radhostem, Czech Republic!
The last rounds were full of fights and tension. In category Boys U8, Lev Jevglevski (EST) took the first place scoring 9 our of 9 points(!), the second place went to David-Christian Talaba (ROU) and Daniel Sava (ROU) won bronze.
In category Girls U8, Sophia-Lenina Matala (ROU) won gold, Sare Adam (FRA) won silver medal and Pausader Ines Bravo (FRA) came third.
Filip Sirbu (FRA) became the Champion in the Boys U10 section, silver medal went to Matelo Vinet (FRA) and Thomas Lobina (FRA) came third.
In category Girls U10, Julia Szczurek (POL) clinched gold, Melania-Cristina Grigore (ROU) was second and Karina Ser (LTU) won bronze.
In category Boys U12, Matvii Bilochenko (POL) emerged as the winner, Alexandru-Daniel Pasca (ROU) came second, and Krisjanis Lazars (LAT) won bronze medal.
Maelys Manouvel (FRA) became the EU Girls U12 Champion, Lila Rzadkowska (POL) claimed second place, and Agnieszka Slusarczyk (POL) clinched bronze.
In category Boys U14, Andrii Diachek (POL) won gold medal, the second place came to FM Vlad Petroff (ROU) and Simon Matejka (SVK) finished third.
Tess Hujova (CZE) won gold in Girls U14 section, Kaja Rzadkowska (POL) clinched silver and Olga Debowska (POL) came third.
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 by director of the event Mr. Zdenek Fiala.
EU Youth Chess Championship 2025 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 127 players from 16 federations. All games were live 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: Pastor Zuccolo Matteo (FRA), Grigore Melania-Cristina (ROU), Rzadkowska Lila (POL), Belocky Daniel (CZE), Adam Sare (FRA), Jongejan Evienne (NED), Svabova Klara (CZE), Rzadkowska Kaja (POL), Jevglevski Lev (EST), Szczurek Julia (POL), Pasca Alexandru-Daniel (ROU), Bolla Zsofia (HUN), Bravo Pausader Ines (FRA), Ser Karina (LTU), Ganea Yanis-Andrei (ROU), FM Petroff Vlad (ROU).
For all participants and accompanying persons organizers had prepared chess and non-chess leisure time activities (simultaneous game with FM Josef Kratochvil, blitz tournament, simultaneous game with IM Petr Pisk).
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. Hope you enjoyed together with us this championship and believe to see us again the next year!
We invite you to the 24th European Union Youth Chess Championship U8-14, which will be held in Roznov pod Radhostem from August 17 to August 26, 2026.
Zdenek Fiala, director
Sachovy klub Svetla nad Sazavou