Eight hundred and thirty-eight chess players from 41 countries took part in chess battles. Among them were 16 international masters. Prizes were contested by young men and girls in six age groups: up to 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years. It was 9 round Swiss tournament.
Stepan Zayarskiy competed with players aged 9−10. He scored six points and took 15th place. Ilya Martynovich played in the largest group — up to 12 years — with 110 other chess players. He also scored six points and ranked 16th.
With such high competition, to rank among Europe's top 20 players is quite a decent result. Four players in Moldova's national team scored six players, the rest showed worse results.
Following the tournament, the Pridnestrovian chess players have improved their international ratings. The rating position goes up in case a higher ranked player is beaten. In the medal chart the Russian national team was the best by far, winning six golden medals. Players from Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Turkey, Germany and the Netherland won one golden medal each.
Alongside the tournament, Fide held seminars for coaches, referees and organisers, as well as a session of the committee for teaching chess at schools. This project is being implemented in many countries in the world, including Russia and Moldova.
The European youth championship was organised by the Croatian Chess Federation under the aegis of the European Chess Union.
The tournament has been nearly unanimously recognised the best youth chess championship ever. Five best players in each age group were awarded cups and special trophies (chess software, chess books, etc.). Prize winners were presented with laptops and tablets.
Next week-end a chess tournament will take place in Tiraspol. Specialised sports school № 3 will hold a traditional children's competition dedicated to City Day.
