The prestigious European Youth Team Chess Championship kicked off in grand style on June 20th, 2024, in Rhodes, Greece. This year's event shattered participation records, with 58 teams representing 16 European federations battling it out for chess glory.
The excitement was palpable as the Opening Ceremony unfolded just before the first round. Mr Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou, Secretary General of the European Chess Union (ECU), and a special guest, Mr Leong Ignatius, President of the ASEAN Chess Confederation, made the ceremonial first moves on the top boards, officially setting the tournament in motion.
Photos by Jim Laga
The first two rounds witnessed thrilling upsets across all four sections – Under 12 and Under 18, with separate competitions for boys and girls. In the U18 category, Israel and Poland stormed ahead with perfect scores of 4 match points, closely followed by Romania, Turkey, Slovenia, and Armenia with 3 points each.
The Girls Under 18 competition is equally tense. Germany's three teams are currently sharing the lead at 4 match points. Israel (Blue team), Ukraine, Poland, Israel (White team), and Romania are hot on their heels with 2 points apiece.
The Under 12 section is a three-way tie at the top, with Germany, Poland, and Romania all boasting 4 match points. Eight teams with 2 points each are waiting to pounce on any misstep by the current leaders.
The Girls Under 12 competition is equally competitive. Four teams—Turkey, Germany, Romania, and Estonia—are tied for first place with a perfect score of 4 points. Five teams are trailing closely behind with 2 points each.
For a comprehensive view of all results, standings, and pairings for the upcoming third round, head over to [link to results here].
Chess enthusiasts can witness the top board matches unfold live on major broadcasting platforms like chess.com, lichess.org, and live.ChessBase. Don't miss out on the electrifying atmosphere!
For more information about the event, visit the official website [link to the official website here].
This exciting championship is co-organized by the Chess Club of Rhodes "Ippotis" and the Region of South Aegean. Be sure to follow the event and witness the rise of tomorrow's chess champions!
