The EU Youth Chess Championship 2021 concluded in Kouty nad Desnou/Czech Republic on Sunday, August 22nd.
The last rounds were full of fights and tension. Vladimir Sofronie (ROU) took the first place in Open U8 category, the second place came to Maksymilian Janeczek (POL) and Stepan Kroulik (CZE) was third.
Aleksandra Pehlivanova (BUL) triumphed Girls U8 section, Emma Cretescu (ROU) was second, and the third place came to Amalie Martikanova (CZE).
Champion EU in category Boys U10 has become Andrei Negrean (ROU), silver medal took Danail Popzafirov (BUL) and the third place took Filip Kulich (SVK). In category Girls U10 has won Ariana Badica (ROU), second place took Sofiia Markina (CZE) and the third place took Eliska Janouskova (CZE).
Kamil Warchol (POL) won the event in Open U12 section, Matej Jasso (CZE) came second while Roman Popov (CZE) took bronze.
Timea Haasova (SVK) became the Girls U12 EU Champion, Ena Bangerter (SUI) won silver and Valerie Barteckova (CZE) took the third place.
Ondrej Winter (CZE) took the first place in Open U14 section, Iosif Ciocani (ROU) came second and the third place came to Nikola Kanov (BUL).
Lucia Kapicakova (SVK) became the Winner of Girls U14 category, Ioana-Bianca Chicarosie (ROU) took second place and bronze came to Adela Janouskova (CZE).
Final rankings of all sections can be found here.
Players who took first three places in each of categories got a cup and diploma. Every participant of EUYCC got a medal. All eight EU champions are leaving Kouty nad Desnou 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 together with the tournament director of ECU Mr. Petr Pisk. EU Youth Chess Championship 2021 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 81 players from 10 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 three rounds these players were awarded: Aleksandra Pehlivanova (BUL), Danail Popzafirov (BUL), Jan Vana (CZE), Daniel Kulich (SVK), Emma Cretescu (ROU), Eliska Janouskova (CZE), Teodor-Stefan Anghelescu (ROU), Tamir Artan (SUI), Bozhidar Mihaylov (BUL), Nikol Barteckova (CZE), Kamil Warchol (POL) and Simon Lang (CZE).
Organizers awarded the best game in each category – for the best game in boys category was announced Andrei Negrean (ROU) for his game against A. Tsolov (cat. B10, round 7) and Sofiia Markina (CZE) for her game against Matej Mydlar (cat. G10, round 8).
For all participants and accompanying persons, the organizers had prepared chess and non-chess leisure time activities (simultaneous games with IM Pisk, blitz tournament, trips).
On Friday morning there was a return simultaneous game with IM Petr Pisk. There were 11 players, who had as Petr Pisk 30 minutes on their clocks. The result was 8,5 : 2,5 for IM Pisk (Marian Jurky (SVK) won and draw was made by David Kluska (SVK), Jan Bara a Vit Vilimek (both CZE).
Participants of the championship had available many leisure time activities. In the hotel, they could use a swimming pool, wellness, sauna, table tennis, bowling, pool, etc. On the official website organizers placed a photo gallery from the tournament and other activities.
The final report of the Organizers can be downloaded here.