On Tuesday, August 19, the 23rd European Union Youth Chess Championship (U8, U10, U12, U14) began at the Hotel Energetic in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic. Following the success of previous editions, the 2025 European Union Youth Chess Championship is once again organized under the patronage of the European Chess Union by Šachový klub Světlá nad Sázavou in cooperation with the Czech Chess Federation, with support from the Zlín Region.
Boys and girls in each age group compete together in a nine-round Swiss tournament with classical time control but are ranked separately. All games are being broadcast live online.
The 2025 edition has set a new participation record, with 127 players from 16 ECU federations. The top-seeded player is Poland’s Andrii Diachek (2223), who leads the U14 category. The top-seeded girl is also from Poland, Lila Rząd kowska (1964), headlining the U12 girls’ section.
For parents and chess fans, the organizers have prepared a variety of chess and non-chess activities. Participants can also take advantage of the hotel’s facilities for relaxation and recreation. Rožnov and its mountainous surroundings are well known for sports opportunities, and many players will enjoy visiting the Wallachian Open Air Museum—the largest of its kind in Central Europe.
On Wednesday, August 27, eight new EU champions will be crowned. The winners in each category will receive laptops, while the second- and third-place finishers will be awarded digital chess clocks. All participants will receive diplomas, medals, and a T-shirt featuring the championship logo.
