The European Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship will take place August 4 – August 8 in Porto Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki. Over 400 talented young players from across Europe will compete in this prestigious championship in the U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18 Open and Girls.

The European Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2025 is organized by the European Chess Union and is part of the ECU Calendar. The event is a 9 rounds Swiss tournament. The rapid section time control is 15 min + 10 sec, while the blitz is 3 min + 2 sec. On August 6th the event also features a Chess Solving Competition.

More ECU youth events: European Youth Team Chess Championship 2025 / European School Chess Championship 2025

Live games will be daily on Chessdom.com. For more events in Europe, check out The European Chess Calendar, which is part of The Chess Calendar.

European Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2025 participants

Ukrainian chess players conquered the top of the Girls U8 section). Russieva Svitlana (UKR) convincingly triumphed in the event with 8/9 points. She was two points ahead of Molchanova Tetyana (UKR) who won bronze, while Gutserieva Bierta (UKR) won bronze with 5 points.

Negrean Andrei (ROU) scored convincing 8/9 points to be the sole Winner of the Open U10 category. Three players tied for the second place scoring 6.5 points, each, with tiebreak criteria deciding the medalists: Shilon Rahav Eliran (ISR) claimed silver, Diachek Andriy (UKR) clinched bronze and Hanache Kai (ENG) came fourth

Svitenko Solomiia (UKR) and Matskevich Varvara (FIDE) tied for the first place of the Girls U10 section with 8 points, each. According to the first tiebreak criteria – direct encounter, Svitenko Solomiia lifted the trophy as she defeated Matskevich Varvara in the fourth round. Siskou Evangelia (GRE) came this with 6.5 points and won bronze medal.

Cherniaiev Tykhon (GER) was the sole Winner of Open U12 section with the score of 7.5/9 points. Three players were in a tie for silver scoring 7 points each, with the tiebreak criteria determining Tudor Henry Edward (ROU) silver, Sowinski Pawel (POL) claimed bronze and Cieslak Patryk (POL) was fourth.

Three girls tied for the top of the GU12 section scoring 6.5 points, each. Beber Anja (SLO) had better tiebreak criteria and won the event, Aydogan Arya (TUR) was second, while Krkyasharyan Sona (ARM) won bronze medal.

Bazakutsa Svyatoslav (UKR) and FM Seemann Jakub (POL) were in a tie for the first place of the Open U14 category as they scored 7.5 points, each. Since they drew their fifth round game, the first tiebreak criteria – the direct encounter wasn’t enough to decide the winner. Bazakutsa Svyatoslav won the gold medal thanks to the better Bucholz, and Seemann Jakub claimed silver. Podolskyi Mykhailo (UKR) and Pilshofer Paul scored 6 points each to tie for bronze medal, but Podolskyi Mykhailo had better tiebreaks and came third, while Pilshofer Paul finished the event in the fourth place.

Five players were in a tie for the first place after 9 robin rounds in the Girls U14 category. Vasiljeva Sofija had best tiebreaks and won the event, Guid Taja (SLO) came second, Pert Nina (ENG) clinched bronze, Omeri Eklea (ALB) came fourth and Balazs Sztella Anna (HUN) finished the event in the fifth place.

FM Pasti Aron (HUN) lifted the Winning trophy in Open U16 section scoring 7.5 points. Two players followed him with 6.5 points, each, with tiebreaks criteria determining FM Trost Edvin (SWE) the silver medalist and FM Borrmann Laurenz won bronze.

WFM Bashylina Luisa (GER) triumphed in the Girls U16 category with 7 points. She was half a point ahead of Mihelic Vesna (SLO) and Zabrzanska Weronika (POL) who tied for second place scoring 6.5 points, each. Tiebreak criteria favored Mihelic Vesna (SLO) who clinched silver and Zabrzanska Weronika (POL) claimed bronze.

IM Koellner Ruben Gideon (GER), IM Borhy Marcell (HUN) and FM Bilych Olexiy (UKR) tied for the top of the Open U18 section. Tiebreaks determined the gold medal goes to IM Koellner Ruben Gideon, IM Borhy Marcell won silver and FM Bilych Olexiy came third.

WFM Wikar Martyna (POL) was convincing in the Girls U18 section with 8 points. WFM Dylag Emilia (POL) and Sulyok Eszter (HUN) tied for the second place with 7.5 points, each, but Dylag Emilia came second according to tiebreaks, and Sulyok Eszter won bronze.

European Youth Blitz Chess Championships 2022 were played on 22nd July with the Closing ceremony being held after the end of the games. ECU Chief Executive officer Mr. Erald Dervishi, FIDE Vice President Ms. Anastasia Sorokina and Tournament Director Mr. Nikos Kalesis took part in the awarding ceremony.

Kryshtafor Maksym (UKR) scored perfect 18/18 (!) to win the double crown at the European Youth & Rapid Chess Championship 2022. Chen Geroge (ENG) was second with 13.5 points and Apostu Rares-Stefan (ROU) won bronze with 13 points.

Russieva Svitlana (UKR) triumphed in the Girls U8 tournament winning another gold medal at the event. Hachkailo Dominika (UKR) clinched silver with 13 points and Gutserieva Bierta (UKR) was third with 11 points.

After winning gold at the European Rapid U10 Championship, Negrean Andrei (ROU) clinched gold also in Blitz event scoring 14.5 points. Hanache Kai (ENG) won silver with 13 points and Diachek Andriy (UKR) came third with 12.5 points.

Matskevich Varvara (FIDE) and Svitenko Solomiia (UKR) tied for the top of the Girls U10 section scoring 15.5 points, each. This time, tiebreak criteria crowned Matskevich Varvara as the Winner of the Championship and Svitenko Solomiia won silver. Meshkova Aleksandra (FIDE) came third with 13 points.

Cherniaiev Tykhon (GER) won the second trophy at the event winning the European Blitz Chess Championship 2022 in Open U12 section with 16.5 points. Dotzer Lukas (AUT) won silver medal with 14 points, and Cieslak Patryk (POL) clinched bronze with 13 points.

Aydogan Arya (TUR) won the Girls U12 section with 14.5 points. Krkyasharyan Sona (ARM) was second with 14 points, and Caku Kler (ALB) finished the event in the third place with 12 points.

FM Seemann Jakub (POL) was the Winner of the Open U14 category. Bazakutsa Svyatoslav (UKR) clinched silver with 13 points and Cnejev Vladimir-Alexandru (ROU) won bronze with 12.5 points.

Vasiljeva Sofja (LAT) clinched gold in the Girls U14 section scoring 14 points. Hajdinic Ema (CRO) was second with 12 points, and two players tied for bronze with 11 points each. Tiebreak criteria determined Guid Taja bronze medalist and Omeri Eklea came fourth.

FM Prokofiev Valentyn (UKR) won gold medal in the Open U16 sections with 14 points. Kovac Petar (CRO) claimed silver with 13 points and FM Palczert Matyas (HUN) came third with 11.5 points.

WCM Shuqja Klean (ALB) was the sole Winner of the Girls U16 category scoring 12.5 points. She was half a point ahead of WFM Bashylina Luisa (GER) and WCM Blokhin Sofia (EST) who tied for the second place with 12 points, each. Bashylina Luisa won silver as she defeated Blokhin Sofia in the second round of the event, and Blokhin Sofia took bronze.

FM Koelle Tobias (GER) triumphed in the Open U18 section with 13 points. FM Fromm Marius (GER) and IM Baum Jonasz (POL) tied for silver scoring 12 points, each, but according to Bucholz, FM Fromm Marius won silver and Baum Jonasz clinched bronze.

WFM Wikar Martyna (POL) was convincing in the Girls U18 section and won the event with 14.5 points. Second-placed WFM Demeter Dorina (HUN) had 11 points, and Ruzic Pia Marie (SLO) won bronze with 10.5 points.

GU18 European Youth Rapid Championship – LIVE games:

U16 European Youth Rapid Championship – LIVE games:

GU16 European Youth Rapid Championship – LIVE games:

U14 European Youth Rapid Championship – LIVE games:

GU14 European Youth Rapid Championship – LIVE games:

The best 3 (three) players in each championship of each category will receive trophies, medals, and gift prizes.

European Youth Blitz Chess Championship 2022 – All participants:

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European Youth Rapid Chess Championship 2022 – All participants:

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Youth Events in Thessaloniki

The European Youth Team Chess Championships (EYTCC) will include four (4) separate competitions, an open competition and a girl’s competition in categories U12 and U18. The playing members of the teams shall not have reached the age of 12 or 18, depending on the category, by 1st January 2022. European Youth Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2022 will start after the finish of European Youth Team Chess Championships being held in the same venue from 19th-23rd July. The events will be played in 6 age categories: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18, open and girls sections separately.

Thessaloniki – a city full of chess history

Thessaloniki is full of chess history. The city hosted the 26th Chess Olympiad and the 28th Chess Olympiad. It has also been a magnet for chess with its fantastic playing conditions and well organized open and official tournaments.

ECU General Assembly

After the request of the Asian Chess Federation, FIDE Council decided on 28^th of April 2022 to allow Continental Assemblies to be held before or after the Chess Olympiad in Chennai. ECU examined the possibility and scheduled the ECU General Assembly for July 23 in Thessaloniki. Secretary General Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou commented, “ECU meets in Thessaloniki and this year’s General Assembly will be a milestone in European chess history. It can be followed live by the whole chess world and we will send our message based in our values.“

Part of the ECU General Assembly are the ECU elections. The following valid nominations have been received within the deadline of the 6^th May 2022, for the ECU Board elections 2022.

A – Ticket of  Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili:

• President: Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili (GEO)
• Deputy President: Mrs. Dana Reizniece-Ozola (LAT)
• Vice President: Mr. Malcolm Pein. (ENG)
• Vice President: Mr. Gunnar Bjornsson (ISL)
• Secretary General: Mr. Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou (GRE)
• Treasurer: Mr. Ion-Serban Dobronauteanu (ROM)

B – Nominations for the 3 Vice Presidents to be elected individually:

• Mr. Sarkhan Gashimov (AZE)
• Mr. Geert Bailleul (BEL)
• Mr. Alojzije Jankovic (CRO)
• Mr. Javier Ochoa (ESP)
• Mr. Jean Michel Rapaire (MNC)
• Mr. Adrian Mikhalchishin (SLO)
• Ms. Eva Repkova (SVK)

The European Youth Team Chess Championships (EYTCC) will include four (4) separate competitions, an open competition and a girl’s competition in categories U12 and U18. The playing members of the teams shall not have reached the age of 12 or 18, depending on the category, by 1st January 2022.

The events will be played in 7 rounds, Swiss system, with time control: 90 min for 40 moves + 30 min for the rest of the game + 30 sec increment for every move played starting from move 1.

Each national federation member of the European Chess Union (ECU) has the right to enter up to four (4) teams of four (4) players and one (1) reserve in the open competitions and up to four (4) teams of two (2) female players and one (1) reserve in the girl competitions. These teams may represent the national federation, a region, a city, a club, or a school.

Titles and prizes:

• The winning team of the open competition receives the title “European Youth Champion Team 2022” in its respective category.
• The winning team of the girls competition receives the title “European Youth Champion Team for Girls 2022” in its respective category.
• The winning team of the combined category of the competition (sum of the match points from both tournaments open & girls, then, if equal, sum of the game points) receives the title “Absolute European Youth Champion Team 2022” in its respective category.
• The first three (3) teams in each competition will receive trophies. Each member of the winning team (players, reserve, and captain) will receive a gold medal. The members of the 2nd and 3rd placed teams will each receive a silver and bronze medal respectively.
• The Winners (1st place) of the combined categories U18 & U12 will receive trophies and players’ medals.
• ECU Certificates for all participants will be awarded.

Entry forms must be filled and sent to the Tournament office no later than 19 May 2022.

European Youth Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2022 will start after the finish of European Youth Team Chess Championships being held in the same venue from 19th-23rd July.

The events will be played in 6 age categories: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18, open and girls sections separately.

21st EUROPEAN YOUTH RAPID CHAMPIONSHIP

• Will be played in 9 rounds according to the Swiss system (one game per round), with rate of play: 15 min. + 10 sec. per player –
• Categories (12 in total): open and girls up to 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years.
• Prizes: the best 3 (three) players, in each category, will receive trophies, medals, and gift prizes.

21st EUROPEAN YOUTH BLITZ CHAMPIONSHIP

• Will be played in 9 rounds according to the Swiss system (two games per round), with rate of play: 3 min. + 2 sec. per player
• Categories (12): open and girls up to 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years.
• Prizes: the best 3 (three) players, in each category, will receive trophies, medals, and gift prizes.

Entry forms for European Youth Rapid&Blitz Chess Championships 2022 must be filled and sent to the Tournament office no later than 19 May 2022.

Tournament office / Contact Information
Tournament Office: Giannis Kalesis
Official Website: http://euroyouth2022.com
Email: euroyouth2022@chess.travel

European Youth Team Chess Championship 2022 – Official regulations

European Youth Rapid&Blitz Chess Championships 2022 – Official regulations

Boys and girls under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 participate in the event. Top seeded players are Lithuanian IM Tomas Laurusas (2444) and Russian WIM Alina Bivol (2237).

Official website