The European Youth Team Chess Championship 2026 concluded yesterday in Pardubice, Czech Republic, after seven days of intense battles across four categories: U12, GU12, U18, and GU18.
Gathering 66 teams and 218 players, the tournament set a new participation record and was played over seven rounds (Swiss system) in each category. The most successful federation in the tournament was Ukraine, winning four medals (two gold and two silver), followed by Germany (two medals: one gold and one bronze), Czech Republic (two medals: one silver and one bronze), and Turkey (two medals: one silver and one bronze). Poland won one gold medal, and Serbia claimed one bronze medal.
Poland emerged as the sole winner of the Open U12 section with a score of 12 match points (five wins and two draws) after intense final-round matches on the top boards. Heading into the last round, Ukraine held a one-point lead over Poland and faced Serbia on the top board, while Poland played against Croatia. While Ukraine suffered a loss against Serbia, Poland scored a perfect 4-0 victory over Croatia to leap to the top and capture the gold. Ukraine finished second with 11 match points, while Serbia and Romania tied for bronze with 9 match points each. Thanks to superior tiebreak criteria, Serbia clinched the bronze medal.
Similarly, the final round determined the winners in the Girls U12 section. After six rounds, Germany 1 and Poland were tied at the top with 9 match points each. Germany 1 faced the Germany 3 team, while top-seeded Poland played against Turkey on board one. Poland suffered a narrow 1.5–0.5 loss to Turkey, whereas Germany 1 won their match by the same score to reach 11 match points and secure the title. Ukraine and Turkey tied for second place with 10 match points each; Ukraine claimed silver on tiebreaks, leaving Turkey in third place.
In the Open U18 section, Ukraine sailed to a convincing tournament victory, finishing with 12 match points – two points ahead of runner-up Turkey, which took silver with 10 match points. Czech Republic and Poland tied for bronze with 9 match points each, but better tiebreak criteria saw the Czech Republic claim the final podium spot, leaving Poland in fourth place.
Ukraine earned another gold medal in the Girls U18 section with an equally dominant 12 match points. They finished two points ahead of Czech Republic 1, which won silver with 10 match points. Meanwhile, three teams tied for third place with 9 match points: Germany 1, Romania, and Czech Republic 2. Having the best tiebreaks, Germany 1 clinched the bronze, while Romania finished fourth and Czech Republic 2 finished fifth.
The closing ceremony took place yesterday afternoon at the tournament venue, attended by the President of the Czech Chess Federation Mr. Martin Petr, Tournament Director Mr. Jan Mazuch, ECU Tournament Director Mr. Petr Pisk, and other distinguished guests.