It was a week to remember in the quiet Austrian town of Mureck. The 22nd European Union Youth Chess Championship gathered some of the continent’s brightest talents — and by the time the last piece had been moved, Cyprus was on top of the podium.
Antonis Picolos, already known at home as a fierce competitor, claimed the U8 title in style, bringing a continental gold back to our island.
Tournament at a Glance
- Dates: August 1–9, 2025
- Venue: Kulturzentrum Mureck, Austria
- Format: 9-round Swiss
- Categories: U8, U10, U12, U14 (boys and girls together, separate prizes)
Cyprus in Mureck — A Team Effort
Antonis wasn’t alone in representing Cyprus at the EUYCC. Our young delegation made us proud across multiple age groups:
- U10 — Stefanos Constantinos (1428): 4.5/9, 15th. Notable wins included round 8 vs. Kende David Gut (HUN, 1619) and victories in rounds 2, 5, 7 to surge into the top half before a tough last‑round pairing with George White (IRL, 1757).
- U12 — Daniel Bannoura (1609): 5/9, 9th place, drawing or splitting points with several top seeds — Nicole White (IRL, 1888) among them — and finishing as Cyprus’s second top‑10 performance of the week.
- U14 — Andreas Karaolis (1685): 3.5/9, 21st, despite a brutal opening pairing vs event winner Anuar Tureshbayev (IRL, 2214). A strong middle run (wins in rounds 2–3, half‑points in rounds 4, 8, 9) showed depth and fight at the oldest age group.
- The team was guided and supported throughout the week by head of delegation Vasilis Karaolis, whose presence ensured our players stayed focused, motivated, and ready for each challenge.
From Near Misses to Continental Glory
For the past two years, Antonis has been knocking on the door at the Cyprus Youth Chess Championships. Twice, he came close to the national crown, only to see it slip away at the final hurdle. But Europe? That’s a different story.
In Mureck, Antonis faced nine rounds of high-pressure chess, opponents from multiple countries, and a demanding time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move — and this time, the ending was pure gold.
Round-by-Round: How the Title Was Won
Antonis’s journey to gold wasn’t a straight line — it was a mix of decisive wins, calculated draws, one setback, and a final-round triumph that sealed the deal.
Round 1 – Making a Statement (1–0)
Facing Austria’s Eliah Meyer, Antonis wasted no time showing his intent. He built central pressure, exchanged into a favorable endgame, and converted cleanly — the perfect start.
Round 2 – The French Strikes (1–0)
Against Croatia’s Luka Kuster, Antonis unleashed his trusted French Defence, seizing kingside space and finishing with a crisp tactical blow.
Round 3 – Balanced Battle (½–½)
Hungary’s Illango Nagy met Antonis in a sharp Sicilian, where Antonis blundered the exchange, only for his opponent to later return the favor. The game then ended in a draw, keeping both players in contention.
Round 4 – A Setback (0–1)
Against Austria’s Florian Holzmann, Antonis took a poisoned pawn that cost him his queen, and the game soon slipped away. It was a stumble — but one that would fire him up for the battles ahead.
Round 5 – Holding the Co-Leader (½–½)
In a critical clash with Maximilian Brunner, Antonis sacrificed a piece for two pawns and reached a worse position, but the game was eventually drawn — a half-point that would prove vital in the final standings.
Round 6 – Endgame Mastery (1–0)
Against Luxembourg’s Dharun Mahendran, Antonis once again trusted his French Defence. A tense middlegame gave way to a technical endgame win — a sign of growing maturity in his play.
Round 7 – Strategic Rest (0-0)
With a scheduled bye, Antonis gained a day to recharge — valuable before the final push.
Round 8 – Safety First (½–½)
Facing Austria’s Manuel Geabou-Silveira, Antonis kept control in a complex position and took the draw, ensuring he stayed in striking distance of the title.
Round 9 – The Golden Finish (1-0)
Slovenia’s Frida Predin met an inspired Antonis in the final round. The Cypriot’s attacking play culminated in a picturesque …Qf2# checkmate. The win brought him level with Brunner and Meyer — and the tiebreaks crowned him champion.
From the opening ceremonies to the final handshake, Cyprus’s young chess talents showed that they belong among Europe’s best. The gold medal from Antonis Picolos crowned a week of determination, learning, and spirited play from every member of our team. His final-round checkmate will be remembered, but so will Stefanos Constantinos’s fighting wins, Daniel Bannoura’s top-10 breakthrough, and Andreas Karaolis’s resilience in the oldest age group. Mureck 2025 was more than a tournament — it was a statement that Cyprus can stand tall on the European stage, and the best is yet to come.
Photo credits:
- Antonis Picolos receiving his trophy — sourced from Shah Mat Masters Facebook page
- Cyprus delegation group photo — sourced from Kaissa Chess Club Facebook page
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