CHESSBOOKS.IN JOURNAL
European Union Youth Chess Championship 2026 Concludes in Czech Republic
The 24th European Union Youth Chess Championship concluded at the Hotel Energetic in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic, with eight European champions crowned across four age categories. Organized under the patronage of the European Chess Union, the event was staged by Šachový klub Světlá nad Sázavou in cooperation with the Czech Chess Federation and brought together 132 players from 19 federations competing in nine rounds over the duration of the tournament.
Boys Section Winners
In the youngest age groups, Kalin Kotsev of Bulgaria claimed gold in the Boys U8 category, followed by Majus Marcinkevičius of Lithuania in second and Artur Zych of Poland in third. The Boys U10 section saw Lithuania’s Vakaris Drapaš take the top honors, with Romania’s Ștefan Grigorescu and Estonia’s Aleksandr Undusk completing the podium.
Latvia’s Sergejs Filipovs won the Boys U12 title, while Czech Republic’s Jindřich Trejbal and Bulgaria’s Georgi Koev finished second and third respectively. In the Boys U14 category, Boyd Leenen of the Netherlands emerged victorious, ahead of Lithuania’s Julius Mikolavičius and Romania’s Răzvan-George Pârvu.
Girls Section Winners
Greece’s Sophia Kaliskami won the Girls U8 championship, with Hungary’s Greta Flora Bánvölgyi taking silver and Romania’s Ioana Onica securing bronze. The Girls U10 category produced an all-Polish runner-up finish, with Monika Guziana claiming gold and Maja Cholewa finishing second, while Romania’s Sabina-Teodora Duțcovici placed third.
Bulgaria’s Niya Malcheva triumphed in the Girls U12 section, followed by fellow Polish competitors Agnieszka Ślusarczyk and Helena Taradajko in second and third place. The Girls U14 championship saw another Bulgarian victory, with Aleksandra Pehlivanova taking the title ahead of Poland’s Olga Dębowska and Amelia Janaszak.
Complete Final Standings
| Category | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boys U8 | Kalin Kotsev (BUL) | Majus Marcinkevičius (LTU) | Artur Zych (POL) |
| Girls U8 | Sophia Kaliskami (GRE) | Greta Flora Bánvölgyi (HUN) | Ioana Onica (ROU) |
| Boys U10 | Vakaris Drapaš (LTU) | Ștefan Grigorescu (ROU) | Aleksandr Undusk (EST) |
| Girls U10 | Monika Guziana (POL) | Maja Cholewa (POL) | Sabina-Teodora Duțcovici (ROU) |
| Boys U12 | Sergejs Filipovs (LAT) | Jindřich Trejbal (CZE) | Georgi Koev (BUL) |
| Girls U12 | Niya Malcheva (BUL) | Agnieszka Ślusarczyk (POL) | Helena Taradajko (POL) |
| Boys U14 | Boyd Leenen (NED) | Julius Mikolavičius (LTU) | Răzvan-George Pârvu (ROU) |
| Girls U14 | Aleksandra Pehlivanova (BUL) | Olga Dębowska (POL) | Amelia Janaszak (POL) |
Prizes and Special Recognition
The top three finishers in each category received trophies and diplomas, while every participant was awarded a medal. All eight European champions also received a laptop, and the next five players in each category were presented with additional valuable prizes. Every player received a T-shirt featuring the EUYCC logo. Prizes were presented by tournament director Zdeněk Fiala and a representative of the Slovak Chess Federation.
A “Best Game of the Round” award was presented daily, recognizing standout performances throughout the championship. Among those honored were Sophia Kaliskami, Boyd Leenen, Aleksandra Pehlivanova, and Amelia Janaszak, alongside several other notable young players representing nations including Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, and Latvia.
Additional Events
On Monday, August 24, an additional event featured a simultaneous exhibition by International Master Petr Pisk. Ten participants, including parents, played with 35 minutes each against Pisk, who finished with eight wins and two draws. The drawn games were secured by Pavel Lozanov of Bulgaria and Frederik Olejník of Slovakia.
Throughout the championship, organizers offered a range of activities for participants and accompanying persons, including chess-related events such as blitz tournaments and the simultaneous exhibition, as well as non-chess leisure options. Hotel amenities included a swimming pool, wellness facilities, a sauna, and a playground. The event received support from the Zlín Region, the city of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, and the Hotel Energetic.
Source
This report is based on information published by FIDE — International Chess Federation.
Official source: https://www.fide.com/winners-crowned-at-european-union-youth-chess-championship-2026/
