European Youth Chess Championship among girls and boys (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) started in Batumi. 707 chess players from 34 countries are participating in it. Of course, Georgia has the most, 240 representatives.
Hotel "Intourist" hosted opening of the championship. Boris Kutin, president of European Chess Federation, Mair Mamedov, president of "Socar Energy Georgia" which is sponsor of Georgian Chess Federation, Lado Vardzelashvili, minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia, Zurab Azmaiparashvili, vice-president of FIDE, Gia Giorgadze, president of Georgian Chess Federation, and others attended the opening.
Matches of the first round will be held on September 20, at 15:00. Batumi Chess Palace will host the championship which will finish on September 30.


Roland Labuchidze