European Youth Chess starts with surprises
Round 1 in Fermo, Italy
Report by Chessdom.com
The European Youth Chess Championship had an exciting start in Fermo. Typical for the youth categories, there were many surprises. However, no one could expect so many surprises at the top boards.
In the U18 section two of the highest rated Grandmasters – Salgado Lopez and Dariusz Swiercz – were defeated by the U2300 Sebastian Filippas (Greece) and U2200 Nuri Kambez (Switzerland). Another big favorite in the U18 group FM Anastasios Pavlidis could not overcome Janez Kavcic (ELO 1990).
In the boys U16 section the clear favorite IM Nils Grandelius had no problem with black against the top Bulgarian U16 talent Sasho Andreev. FM Arribas Lopez, however, was held to a draw by Vladimir Jacko.
FM Bukavshin and FM Berbatov left no question they are going to compete for the gold medal in the U14 section. Their task got a bit easier after the surprising draws of FM Benjamin Bok with Michael Atnilov and FM Mads Andersen with Andrew Mc Clement.
In the top girls section the favorites Anastasia Savina, WGM Vojinovic, and WGM Girya started with convincing victories. In the U16 section WIM Bulmaga became the clear favorite after WIM Paikidze did not show up and WIM Kazimova was held to a draw. In the U14 section WFM Samigullina, WFM Efroimski, WFM Aleksandra Lach, and WFM Anna Iwanow head into the next round with full points.
More information on the official site.
Do they get money if they win?
No, they get free movie tickets in local cinema only, and invitation to libraries in town.