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)