The European Junior U20 Chess Championship 2026 concluded yesterday in Cetinje, Montenegro!
The event took place from 5–16 August, featuring 116 players from 38 European federations who competed across nine Swiss rounds in two categories: Open U20 and Girls U20.
GM Yahli Sokolovsky (ISR, 2541) emerged as the sole winner of the Open U20 Championship, scoring 7/9 points. Sokolovsky finished a half-point ahead of four players who tied for the silver medal with a score of 6.5/9 points each: FM Mikhei Navumenka (FIDE, 2297), GM Emin Ohanyan (ARM, 2517), IM Vladimir-Alexandru Cnejev (ROU, 2402), and FM Artem Dyachuk (UKR, 2376). With the best tiebreak criteria, FM Mikhei Navumenka finished the event in second place, GM Emin Ohanyan won the bronze medal, IM Vladimir-Alexandru Cnejev came fourth, and FM Artem Dyachuk was fifth.
IM Eline Roebers (NED, 2371) triumphed in the Girls U20 competition with a convincing score of 7.5/9 points. Tetyana Skarbarchuk (UKR, 2240) followed with a score of 7/9 points to clinch the silver medal, while WCM Anja Beber (SLO, 2162) won bronze, scoring 6.5/9 points.
The Closing Ceremony of the event was held yesterday evening in the tournament playing hall, where the awards were presented by the legendary Montenegrin Grandmaster Mr. Bozidar Bonja Ivanovic, who also officially declared the championship closed.
Final rankings of both competitions can be found here.
The photo gallery and photos by Montenegro Chess Federation / Novak Abramovic can be found here.
