European Junior Chess Championship 2026 Begins in Cetinje

The European Junior Chess Championship 2026 began in Cetinje, Montenegro, with Zanas Nainys leading the open section on 3/3 and Vesna Mihelic perfect among the girls.

The European Junior Chess Championship 2026 is under way in Cetinje, Montenegro. Players under the age of 20 from across Europe are competing for continental titles in an Open section and a Girls section.

Both sections are 9-round Swiss tournaments at a classical time control: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 more minutes, with 30 seconds per move.

After three rounds, the sole leader of the Open section is Lithuanian FM Zanas Nainys. He has won all three of his games. His best win came in round 3, when he beat one of the top seeds, IM Artiom Stribuk, in the King's Indian Defense.

The top seed, Israeli GM Yahli Sokolovsky, won his first game but was held to a draw in round 2 by FM Michail Vassis. Armenian GM Emin Ohanyan, the second seed, also has 2.5 points.

In the Girls section, Slovenia's Vesna Mihelic has a perfect 3 out of 3. A large group of players is just half a point behind, including the Netherlands' Eline Roebers.

Junior championships are where many future grandmasters first make their names. The age limit means players are very evenly matched in experience, and results are often unpredictable. Seeds can lose, and lower-rated players can go on remarkable runs, which is exactly what makes these events so exciting.

Nainys's win over a much higher-rated opponent is a good reminder for young players. Ratings show how well someone has played in the past. They do not decide what happens in your game today. Play the position in front of you, and the result will follow from the quality of your moves.

Six rounds remain in both sections.