World Youth Chess Championship 2026: Final sprint begins after rest day
The FIDE World Youth Chess Championship held at the Pala Dean Martin Congress Center in Montesilvano has now crossed the halfway stage. With six rounds completed, the battle for the titles in the Open and Girls Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18 categories remains wide open. Each round has produced intense and exciting encounters, and at this stage it is still difficult to identify a clear favourite in any section, with several players remaining firmly in contention. Let’s take a look at the current situation in each category. Open Under-18 If rating is any indication, the Open Under-18 section is one of the strongest and most competitive events of the championship. At the end of Round 6, FM Louis Vallee of France and FM Vache Hovakimyan of Armenia share the lead with 5.5/6. Their direct encounter in the next round could potentially produce a sole leader, although with six players just half a point behind on 5 points, the race remains completely open. In Round 6, Vallee scored an important victory on the top board with the black pieces against Latvia’s CM Georgijs Germanovs, who had started the day as the sole leader. Playing a Sicilian Rossolimo Attack, Vallee launched a powerful kingside offensive and converted his advantage into a win after 54 moves. Meanwhile, on Board 3, Hovakimyan defeated third seed IM Artem Pingin. The game featured a Nimzo-Indian Defence, and after several exchanges, gradually transitioned into an endgame. Hovakimyan’s active pieces and superior pawn play proved decisive, allowing him to secure victory in 44 moves and join the lead. Standings after Round 6: https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1438701.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=6&fed=LAT&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0 Girls Under-18 The biggest game of Round 6 in the Girls Under-18 section took place on the top board, where second seed WFM Valeria Kleymenova faced top seed and tournament favourite WIM Zarina Nurgaliyeva of Kazakhstan. Kleymenova emerged victorious to score her sixth consecutive win and become the sole leader with a perfect 6/6 score. Playing White in a Closed Catalan, Valeria established an early advantage thanks to her superior space. Although Nurgaliyeva fought back after the queens were exchanged and managed to improve her position as the game opened up, a problematic light-squared bishop that remained passive throughout the endgame eventually proved to be her undoing. Valeria converted her advantage confidently and maintained her perfect score. Meanwhile, on Board 2, India’s WFM Pratitee Bordoloi, seeded 16th, defeated Narmin Abdinova of Azerbaijan to move into clear second place with 5.5 points. As a result, the Round 7 clash between Kleymenova and Bordoloi has become one of the most important games of the tournament so far. At the moment, Kleymenova and Bordoloi appear to have pulled away from the rest of the field. Behind them, as many as eleven players are tied on 4.5 points, keeping the race for the medals very much alive. Standings after Round 6: https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1438698.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=6&fed=LAT&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0 Open Under-16 The Open Under-16 section witnessed a result very similar to that of the Open Under-18 category, as the tournament leader at the start of the round also suffered defeat. India’s IM Krishna H. Goutham, who had won his first five games in a row, was beaten by FM Oleksii Karvatskyi of Ukraine. Playing with the white pieces, Karvatskyi outplayed Goutham in a Caro-Kann Defence. Although the Indian IM obtained a promising position out of the opening, he was unable to cope with the pressure generated by Karvatskyi’s kingside attack. The Ukrainian gradually increased the initiative and eventually forced resignation on move 40. The victory propelled Karvatskyi into sole first place with 5.5 points out of 6. Behind him, the chase remains extremely close, with six players sharing second place on 5 points, including Goutham himself. Standings after Round 6: https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1438700.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=6&fed=LAT&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0 Girls Under-16 The Girls Under-16 section has developed in a manner very similar to the Girls Under-18 category, with Jiang Tianyu of China emerging as the player to beat. Tianyu has won all six of her games so far and leads the standings with a perfect 6/6 score, strengthening her credentials as one of the leading contenders for the title. Four players remain in pursuit on 5 points, one full point behind the leader. In Round 6, Tianyu defeated Oksana Goriachkina (FIDE) on the top board. Playing a Petroff Defence with the black pieces, Goriachkina managed to equalize comfortably out of the opening, and the game remained balanced for a long time. However, Tianyu initiated a kingside attack and gradually increased the pressure. A queen exchange on move 27 proved to be a critical mistake from Black’s perspective, and the Chinese player went on to convert her advantage comfortably, securing victory on move 43. Elsewhere, second seed WIM Rachael Li of the United States defeated WFM Aiaru Altynbek of Kazakhstan on Board 3, while on Board 4, WFM Veranika Abramkina (FIDE) scored an important win against WIM Diana Khafizova (FIDE). Standings after Round 6: https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1438697.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=6&fed=FID&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0 Open Under-14 The Open Under-14 section remains one of the most intriguing events of the championship, largely because defending champion IM Mark Smirnov of Kazakhstan is attempting to retain the title he won in the previous edition. However, with several rounds still to be played, the battle remains completely open. At the end of Round 6, FM Ethan Guo of the United States leads the standings with 5.5 points. Close behind him are no fewer than nine players on 5 points, including Smirnov, ensuring that the fight for the title remains wide open heading into the second half of the tournament. In Round 6, Guo drew with FM Tyhran Ambartsumian of Armenia while playing with the black pieces on the top board. Meanwhile, Smirnov, who had already conceded two draws earlier in the event, bounced back strongly with a victory over FM Alvaro Torres Rebolledo of Spain. Playing with the black pieces, the defending champion secured a valuable win to remain firmly in contention for another world title. Standings after Round 6: https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1438699.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=6&fed=FID&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0 Girls Under-14 The Girls Under-14 section saw a cautious day on the top boards, with the leading players avoiding unnecessary risks as the tournament headed into its rest day. Zahra Allahverdi of Azerbaijan remains the sole leader with 5.5 points. After winning her first five games, she was held to a draw
FIDE Youth World Cup U8-U12 reaches midpoint
After five rounds played at the FIDE Youth World Cup 2026 in Batumi, the tournament is starting to heat up. Hundreds of young players from around the world are competing with dedication and sportsmanship, embodying the spirit of chess that unites nations beyond borders. Several players hold a perfect score of 5/5 and lead their respective sections: Elizabeth Zhou (USA) – U12 Girls Chen Zhihan (CHN) – U10 Girls Ulemj Mendsaikhan (MGL) – U8 Open Shatsila Miraslava (FID) and Shanojan Akshara (SRI) – U8 Girls In the U12 Open category, Mustafa Demirkan (TUR) emerged as the sole leader with 4.5/5, while the U10 Open, a tightly contested section, has seven leaders with 4.5 points: Mani Sarbartho (IND), Batbileg Boldbaatar (MGL), Li Aiden Linyuan (USA), Elemes Nurmukhamed (KAZ), Damnitski Uladzislau (FID), Nurshin Nurali (KAZ), and Yilanli Mehmet (USA). Standings after Round 5: U8 Girls https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1435097.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=5&flag=30&SNode=S0 U8 Open https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1435087.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=5&flag=30&SNode=S0 U10 Girls https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1435098.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=5&flag=30&SNode=S0 U10 Open https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1435092.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=5&flag=30&SNode=S0 U12 Girls https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1435099.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=5&flag=30&SNode=S0 U12 Open https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1435095.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=5&flag=30&SNode=S0 Games in all age categories are being broadcast live, allowing chess fans, parents, coaches, and supporters around the world to follow the action in real time. This technology provides maximum accessibility and brings the excitement of the tournament to a global audience, further underscoring the prestige and high standard of the event. Follow the games here: https://www.chess.com/events/world-cadets-cup-2026-girls-08/games Bodybuilder David Mskhaladze as a special guest One of the rounds began with a ceremonial first move in the Under 12 Open category, made by the guest of honor, renowned bodybuilder David Mskhaladze. The appearance of the “Georgian Giant” became a memorable moment for the young participants. Many of the players were pleasantly surprised by his visit and watched him with curiosity and admiration as he walked among the chessboards, observing the games and positions. Players, arbiters, and guests of the tournament took many memorable photos with him. David remarked that it was inspiring to witness the concentration, focus, and strong will displayed by these young chess players. “Sport unites all of us, whether it’s physical or mental. Also, many thanks to Mr. Akaki Iashvili for creating such a wonderful atmosphere! Thanks and all the best!” Mskhaladze said. Every game matters Reflecting on the significance of the championship and the opportunities it provides for young players, Chief Arbiter Gopakumar M. S. shared his thoughts on the event, emphasizing its international character and its importance for the development of future chess stars. “As Chief Arbiter, I am truly delighted to be part of this remarkable championship. With an impressive participation of 662 players from 68 countries, the event offers an exceptional platform for budding talents to compete against one another at a truly global level. The format itself is highly engaging, as players are not only striving for top honors here but also aiming to secure qualification for the World Cadet Championship this November. This unique structure ensures that every game carries significance and fosters a spirit of competitive excellence. Such an environment, where young players are exposed to high standards and the opportunity to compete with the best in their age category, will undoubtedly contribute immensely to their growth and future in the game,” he said. FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar in Batumi Simultaneously with the tournament, a FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar is being held in Batumi from 17 to 21 June 2026. The seminar is organized by the Georgian Chess Federation under the auspices of FIDE. The seminar is led by experienced IA Ashot Vardapetyan (ARM), who is delivering comprehensive lectures on the Laws of Chess, tournament regulations, arbiters’ responsibilities, and practical aspects of officiating international competitions. A total of 24 arbiters representing three different countries are taking part in the seminar. The program is designed in accordance with FIDE regulations and provides participants with the opportunity to earn norms and qualify for the FIDE Arbiter title. The seminar will conclude with an official examination, during which participants will demonstrate their understanding of FIDE rules and arbitral procedures. Photos: Mindia Malakhmadze Official website: https://wcc2026.fide.com/