On Saturday, August 14th, the 19th European Union Youth Chess Championship U8, U10, U12 and U14 took off in the Hotel Dlouhe Strane in Kouty nad Desnou in the Czech Republic. Following previous successful years, the European Union Youth Chess Championship 2021, under the patronage of the European Chess Union, is organized again by Sachovy klub Svetla nad Sazavou in cooperation with the Czech Chess Federation.

Boys and girls in each category play the same 9-round Swiss tournament but are ranked separately. The time control is 90 min + 30 sec increment for each move played. This prestigious event traditionally attracts many young chess talents - 104 players from 12 national federations of ECU registered this year. Due to the new travel measures in EU countries, the number of players has been reduced to 81, and the number of federations has been cut to 10. The highest-rated player of the event is Bulgarian CM Nikola Kanov (2199).

For players’ parents and all chess fans, the organizers prepared an extensive program of chess and non-chess activities. Visitors in Kouty nad Desnou can watch the games in the projection hall of the Hotel Dlouhe Strane.

All participants can enjoy the leisure time activities offered by the hotel, such as pool, wellness, bowling, billiard and table tennis. There is a new aquapark opened In Velke Losiny. The guests and the participants also can visit a new The Sky Walk in Dolni Morava.

On Sunday, August 22nd, we will know eight new young champions of the EU for the year 2021. The champions in each category will receive laptops, whereas the 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each category will get digital chess clocks. After each round, the best game of every category will be awarded a prize. All participants will receive a memorial diploma, a medal and a t-shirt with the championship logo.

Text: Zdeněk Fiala, director Sachovy klub Svetla nad Sazavou

Photo: the official website

Official website: https://www.chess.cz/mistrovstvi-evropske-unie/

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr573693.aspx?lan=5&art=0&turdet=YES&flag=30

Online broadcast of the category U8

Online broadcast of the category U10

Online broadcast of the category U12

Online broadcast of the category U14

Photo gallery of the championship: 
https://sachysvetla.rajce.idnes.cz/EUYCC_2021/

Photo gallery of the championship - players:
https://sachysvetla.rajce.idnes.cz/EUYCC_2021_Players/