Source: fide.com
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Youth Chess Masters Triumph in Montesilvano: A Global Showcase of Strategy and Skill
November 27, 2023
Chess Tournaments,News
The Youth World Chess Champions have been named in Montesilvano, Italy, following a thrilling series of eleven rounds in the categories for under 14, 16, and 18, both open and girls. The ceremony featured distinguished guests such as Ottavio De Martinis, Montesilvano’s Mayor, Lukasz Turlej from FIDE, and Luigi Maggi, head of the Italian Chess Federation, who honored the new world champions and the top players.
A Global Showcase of Strategy and Skill – source: Przemek Nikiel/fide.com
In the under 18 open category, Aleksey Grebnev, with a FIDE rating of 2500, secured the championship with a game to spare, scoring 9.5 out of 11. Despite a loss in his final game to top seed Volodar Murzin, rated 2625 by FIDE, who earned the silver medal with 9 points, Grebnev claimed the title. With 8.5 points, Aldiyar Ansat finished third.
Ayan Allahverdiyeva from Azerbaijan, with a rating of 2152, won the gold in the Girls U18 group after a decisive victory in a challenging Sicilian game, concluding with eight victories and three draws. Rochelle Wu of the USA, rated 2228, secured the silver with her final win, while Yelyzaveta Hrebenshchykova from Ukraine took the bronze with 8.5 points.
The under 16 open competition was exceptionally close. Polish players Jakub Seeman and Jan Klimkowski, both International Masters and friends, were tied for the lead before the last rounds. Seeman, with the better tiebreaks, won the championship after a daring Sicilian game, while Klimkowski earned silver with 9 points, following a tense endgame against Rajat Makkar from France. Leonardo Costa from Germany also scored 9 points but received bronze due to tiebreaks.
Chuqiao Wang of China dominated the Girls U16, remaining undefeated with 9 wins and 2 draws, claiming the championship. Alexandra Shvedova, trailing by a point, took silver, and Alua Nurmanova from Kazakhstan clinched the bronze on a tiebreak against India’s Tejaswini G.
In the under 14 open, Pawel Sowinski from Poland triumphed with a score of 9 out of 11. Heading into the last round tied with Magnus Ermitsch from Germany, Sowinski clinched first place with a draw. Ermitsch, Perossa from Italy, and David Akhmedov ended tied for second, with tiebreaks favoring Ermitsch and Perossa for silver and bronze.
Afruza Khamdamova from Uzbekistan conquered the Girls U14 category, bouncing back from a missed first-round due to travel issues to win ten straight games. Elnaz Kaliakhmet from Kazakhstan took silver, and Iris Mou from the USA secured bronze with 8.5 points.
Poland stood out in the overall results at the 2023 FIDE World Youth Championship, earning two golds and one silver, while Uzbekistan and China shared the second spot.