The 2026 European Youth Team Chess Championship is being held in Pardubice, Czech Republic, from 26 July to 1 August, organised by the Czech Chess Federation together with the European Chess Union (ECU). This year’s edition set a new participation record, with 66 teams and 218 players competing across four categories: Open U12, Open U18, Girls U12 and Girls U18. Each section is played as a 7-round Swiss-system team event, with a time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move.
Below is the full list of participating teams in every category, along with each team’s average rating, captain and top board player.
European Youth Team Chess Championship 2026
Open U18
The strongest section of the Championship in average rating, headed by Ukraine (2404) with GM Roman Dehtiarov on top board, followed closely by Armenia and hosts Czech Republic.
| Rank | Team | Rating Avg. | Captain | Board 1 player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | 2404 | Volodymyr Hrabinskyy | GM Dehtiarov, Roman (2507) |
| 2 | Armenia | 2384 | Artashes Minasyan | IM Sukiasyan, Vahe A. (2409) |
| 3 | Czech Republic | 2375 | Lukáš Vlasák | IM Nemec, Jachym (2477) |
| 4 | Hungary | 2371 | Laszlo Gonda | IM Bodrogi, Bendeguz (2459) |
| 5 | Israel | 2370 | Marsel Efroimski | IM Tulchynskyi, Feliks (2417) |
| 6 | Poland | 2366 | IM Krystizin Kuzmicz | FM Radzimski, Antoni (2394) |
| 7 | Romania | 2363 | Ionescu Cristian | IM Cnejev, Vladimir-Alexandru (2421) |
| 8 | Germany | 2359 | Alexander Krastev | FM Korchynskyi, Mykola (2430) |
| 9 | Turkey | 2338 | Hakan Yaramiş | IM Durak, Can (2424) |
| 10 | Austria | 2337 | Gert Schnider | FM Balint, Peter (2414) |
| 11 | Slovenia | 2309 | Aljosa Grosar | IM Lavrencic, Matic (2495) |
| 12 | Netherlands | 2285 | Robert Ris | FM Kurt, Sascha (2327) |
| 13 | Serbia | 2257 | Pezelj Novak | FM Dumbelovic, Novak (2349) |
| 14 | Slovakia 1 | 2213 | Marek Karas | FM Oruzinsky, Juraj (2329) |
| 15 | Rishon Le Zion (ISR) | 2155 | Marsel Efroimski | FM Azoulay, Yehonatan (2328) |
| 16 | Slovakia 2 | 2104 | Marek Karas | Smetana, Peter (2120) |
| 17 | Šachy Štěpán (CZE) | 2069 | Přemysl Hrbek | FM Brozka, Karel (2265) |
| 18 | Ireland | 1828 | Fiachra Moore | Moore, Fiachra (1927) |
Open U12
Led by Netherlands (2045 average), with Serbia and Hungary close behind. Sixteen teams contest this category.
| Rank | Team | Rating Avg. | Captain | Board 1 player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 2045 | Geon Knol | Pathak, Raghav (2152) |
| 2 | Serbia | 2031 | Pezelj, Novak | Ivanovic, Leonid (2140) |
| 3 | Hungary | 2020 | Miklós Galyas | CM Ilko-Toth, Andras (2236) |
| 4 | Turkey | 2001 | Mert Koç | CM Yildiz, Ali Aras (2195) |
| 5 | Ukraine | 1987 | Volodymyr Vusatiuk | Farkash, Denys (2097) |
| 6 | Germany | 1987 | Sergey Galdunts | Mueller, Konstantin (2020) |
| 7 | Poland | 1985 | GM Marcin Tazbir | Buklaho, Ignacy (2082) |
| 8 | Croatia 1 | 1964 | Ognjen Cvitan | Karlovic, Luka (2098) |
| 9 | Romania | 1962 | Ionescu Cristian | CM Larion, Iustin (2060) |
| 10 | Czech Republic | 1938 | Jakub Rabatin | Temirbek, Amirali (2019) |
| 11 | Israel | 1910 | Michael Klenburg | Shemer, Oz (1990) |
| 12 | Slovakia | 1886 | Marek Karas | CM Andre, Tomas (1961) |
| 13 | Slovenia | 1844 | David Stevanic | Konopatskyi, Aleksandr (1949) |
| 14 | Etude Ramat Gan Chess Club (ISR) | 1719 | FM Dan Drori | Geva Brodt, Yoav (1860) |
| 15 | Croatia 2 | 1671 | – | Abicic, Josip (1736) |
| 16 | Luxembourg | 1650 | IM Fred Berend | Esmer, Hamza (1829) |
Girls U18
Headlined by Germany 2 (2186 average), with hosts Czech Republic 1 and Serbia also among the top seeds. Eighteen teams take part, including four separate Czech Republic and three separate Germany entries.
| Rank | Team | Rating Avg. | Captain | Board 1 player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany 2 | 2186 | Carmen Voicu Jagodzinsky | WFM Trunz, Michelle (2224) |
| 2 | Czech Republic 1 | 2151 | Zbyněk Hráček | WFM Rybackova, Lucie (2154) |
| 3 | Serbia | 2149 | Carnic Srdjan | WFM Vujovic, Vera (2207) |
| 4 | Romania | 2146 | Ionescu Cristian | WFM Iordache, Alexia-Andreea (2150) |
| 5 | Germany 1 | 2120 | Tatiana Melamed | WFM Peglau, Charis (2169) |
| 6 | Hungary | 2101 | Balazs Csonka | WFM Biro, Beata (2084) |
| 7 | Poland | 2094 | Marcin Tazbir | WFM Szczotka, Klara (2129) |
| 8 | Czech Republic 2 | 2092 | Zbyněk Hráček | Stara, Zuzana (2098) |
| 9 | Ukraine | 2068 | Volodymyr Hrabinskyy | WFM Toroptseva, Yevheniia (2092) |
| 10 | Germany 3 | 2031 | Carmen Voicu Jagodzinsky | Kovalskyy, Alicia (2008) |
| 11 | Croatia | 2014 | Jadranko Plenca | WFM Zagorac, Lara (2062) |
| 12 | Turkey | 1967 | Arda Canbulan | WCM Kucuk, Aybike (2013) |
| 13 | Slovenia | 1965 | Aljosa Grosar | WCM Beber, Anja (2093) |
| 14 | Czech Republic 3 | 1934 | Julia Movsesian | Vancakova, Veronika (1979) |
| 15 | Israel | 1928 | Marsel Efroimski | Khairova, Evelina (1949) |
| 16 | Rishon Le Zion – Nazareth (ISR) | 1882 | Marsel Efroimski | Ingel, Mica Bar (1887) |
| 17 | Slovakia | 1876 | Sergej Berezjuk | WCM Novomeska, Karin (2033) |
| 18 | Black and White (CZE) | 1721 | Přemysl Hrbek | Kozusnikova, Daniela (1812) |
Girls U12
The youngest section, topped by Poland (1912 average), with Germany 1 and Romania rounding out the top three seeds. Fourteen teams compete, with Germany and Czech Republic each fielding multiple entries.
| Rank | Team | Rating Avg. | Captain | Board 1 player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poland | 1912 | Krystian Kuzmicz | WCM Rzadkowska, Lila (1932) |
| 2 | Germany 1 | 1864 | Carmen Voicu-Jagodzinsky | WCM Chen, Yuefan (1907) |
| 3 | Romania | 1851 | Ionescu Cristian | WCM Anistoroaei, Maria (1883) |
| 4 | Slovenia | 1838 | David Stevanic | Jaksa, Ema (2084) |
| 5 | Serbia | 1832 | Carnic Srdjan | Smilic, Nina (1880) |
| 6 | Germany 2 | 1777 | Tatiana Melamed | Lukas, Olivia (1787) |
| 7 | Germany 3 | 1758 | Tatiana Melamed | Vignesh, Sara (1729) |
| 8 | Hungary | 1757 | Balazs Csonka | Vadkerti, Anna (1714) |
| 9 | Ukraine | 1724 | Volodymyr Hrabinskyy | Horodna, Anna (1740) |
| 10 | Turkey | 1710 | Arda Canbulan | Kaygun, Melis Duru (1836) |
| 11 | Czech Republic 1 | 1688 | Julia Movsesian | Tykalova, Barbora (1729) |
| 12 | Slovakia | 1675 | Sergej Berezjuk | Macakova, Bianka (1788) |
| 13 | Czech Republic 2 | 1534 | – | Zakova, Barbora (0) |
| 14 | Israel | 1500 | Michael Klenburg | Shorosh, Lana (1515) |
About the event
- Organiser: Czech Chess Federation & European Chess Union
- Location: Enteria Arena, Pardubice, Czech Republic
- Dates: 26 July – 1 August 2026
- Format: Swiss-system for teams, 7 rounds, 90 min + 30 sec/move
- Tournament director: IO Jan Mazuch
- Chief arbiter: IA Jan Sikora
- Categories: Open U12, Open U18, Girls U12, Girls U18
- Teams / players: 66 teams, 218 players (record participation)
