Armenian schools finish in top six at European stage of World Schools Team Championship

The European stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship has concluded in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. The tournament was held from September 28 to October 3, 2026.

A total of 27 teams from 25 countries took part in the competition. After eight rounds, the title went to Gymnasium No. 50 of Minsk, Belarus.

Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 of Latvia finished second, while LEPL Kutaisi Andria Razmadze Physico-Mathematical Public School No. 41 of Georgia claimed third place.

Armenia was represented by three schools at the home tournament. The best Armenian result came from the Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex, which finished fifth. Yerevan Basic School No. 77 took sixth place, while Ayntap Secondary School No. 1 finished 13th.

Top three teams

1. Gymnasium No. 50 of Minsk — Belarus

2. Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 — Latvia

3. LEPL Kutaisi Andria Razmadze Physico-Mathematical Public School No. 41 — Georgia

The organizers also awarded the players who achieved the best individual results on each board.

Board 1:

1. Damir Bulgak — Belarus

2. Tin Biti — Croatia

3. Uros Vuckovic — Serbia

Board 2:

1. Daniel Beniosev — Latvia

2. Mikita Mazanik — Belarus

3. Adrian Kornilov — Estonia

Board 3:

1. Krisjanis Lazars — Latvia

2. Platon Kiritshenko — Estonia

3. Kiryl Babeikin — Belarus

Board 4:

1. Ioana-Cristiana Pomirleanu — Romania

2. Katrina Yakovleva — Belarus

3. Adam Ben Avi — Israel

Reserve Board:

1. Lile Svanadze — Georgia

2. Julen Arbizu Catalan — Spain

3. Maksymilian Wylezinski — Poland

The winners of the continental stages will have the opportunity to continue their campaign at the global level. The World Schools Team Chess Championship will be held in Kazakhstan in December, where the strongest school teams from different continents will compete for the world title.

Hosting another major international tournament in Tsaghkadzor once again placed Armenia among the key centers of international school chess, while two Armenian teams managed to finish inside the top six of the European stage.