During the lockdown caused by pandemic of Covid19 virus, almost all chess players throughout the world were forced to turn to online chess.
Many over-the-board chess events were postponed, altogether with the FIDE Olympiad and the biggest European official events.
The first international Chess Organisation to stage an official event in accordance to new circumstances was European Chess Union holding the first ever European Online Chess Championship which took place from 16th-30th May through Chess.com online platform.
After the huge success and participation of more than 4500 players, more than 250 prizes together with money prizes, European Chess Union announced the organisation of European Online Youth Chess Championship.
Meanwhile, the International Chess Organisation FIDE held an Online FIDE Olympiad in the period from 24th July till 30th August, played through Chess.com platform and announced the joint winners of the event: Teams of Russia and India.
The recently played European Online Youth Chess Championship which concluded on Sunday, 20th of September, was organised as a hybrid event, played from the real playing venues chosen by National Chess Federations and supervised by arbiters, but through the Online Chess platform Tornelo. The event gathered more than 700 players from 40 federations connected through the zoom calls from about 60 different venues throughout Europe!
After 3 days of play within four different age categories (open and girls sections U12, U14, U16 and U18) European Chess Union announced the 1st European Youth and Team Online Chess Champions.
Russian Teams conquered the top of Europe by winning both golds in overall girls and open team standings and taking 13 medals in individual sections, among them 6 gold medals!
Teams standings:
#EOYCC GIRLS
RUS 29 points-RUS2 25 Gold Medal Russian Chess Federation
GER 25,5 points Silver Medal German Chess Federation
NED 24.5 points Bronze Medal Royal Dutch Chess Federation
#EOYCC OPEN
RUS 30,5 points-RUS2 26.5 Gold Medal Russian Chess Federation
AZE 28 points Silver Medal Azerbaijan Chess Federation
ARM 26 points(182.5)
GER 26 points (179.5) Bronze Medals Armenian and German Chess Federations
Individual standings:
Open U18:
1. GM Esipenko Andrey (RUS) , 8/9
2. GM Schoppen Casper (NED) 7/9
3. Nesterov Arseniy (RUS) 7/9
Girls U18:
1. WGM Maltsevskaya Aleksandra (RUS) 8/9
2. WIM Solozhenkina Elizaveta (RUS) 8/9
3. Hajiyeva Laman (AZE) 7/9
Open U16:
1. Makarian Rudik (RUS) 8/9
2. Svane Frederik (GER) 8/9
3. Dudin Gleb (RUS) 7.5/9
Girls U16:
1. Kirchei Viktoria (RUS) 8/9
2. Nur-Mukhametova Alisa (RUS) 8/9
3. Ruzic Pia Marie (SLO) 7/9
Open U14:
1. IM Murzin Volodar (RUS) 8/9
2. Makoveev Ilya (RUS) 7.5/9
3. Lazavik Denis (BLR) 7/9
Girls U14:
1. Tarasenka Aliaksandra (BLR) 7.5/9
2. Aydin Gulenay (TUR) 7.5/9
3. Roebers Eline (NED) 7/9
Open U12:
1. Azadaliyev Jahander (AZE) 8/9
2. Seeman Jakub (POL) 7.5/9
3. Samunenkov Ihor (UKR) 7/9
Girls U12:
1.Zhapova Yana (RUS) 9/9
2. Shukhman Anna (RUS) 7.5/9
3. Shvedova Alexandra (RUS) 7/9
All the results can be found here.
As the real tournament, European Youth Online Chess Championship concluded with Closing Ceremony which took place on Monday 21st September and was broadcasted LIVE through ECU Facebook page and ECU Twitch channel. The ceremony was attended by the winners of the event, youth national teams, ECU President Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili, ECU Vice President, FIDE representative Mr. Lukasz Turlej, Tornelo representative Mr. David Cordover and other distinguished participants.
All the participants have received a participation certificate, while the winners were awarded with ECU e-medals. Top six players from all the categories were invited in participation to Online Chess Camps with top chess trainers. More about the regulations and prizes here.
Photo album by European Chess Union
ECU Board announced two more online events by ECU to be held by the end of the year:
– European Online Corporate Chess Championship (3-4 October 2020)- Tornelo
– European Women Club Cup (20-22 November 2020)- Playing server to be announced
