EUROPEAN SCHOOLS CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2025

Age categories under 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, Open and Girls

Mamaia, Romania, 29 May – 8 June, 2025

GENERAL REGULATIONS

1. Invitation

The European Chess Union (ECU), together with the Romanian Chess Federation and Universul Chess Club invite all National Chess Federations of ECU to participate at EUROPEAN SCHOOLS CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP, organized in the city of Constanta, Mamaia resort, Romania, between 29th May (arrival) – 8th June (departure), 2025.

2. Participants & Registration

2.1 Entitled to participate are chess players from ECU member Federations, according to their age category:

Tournaments Under 07 (Open & Girls), player's date of birth: 1 January 2018 and after

Tournaments Under 09 (Open & Girls), player's date of birth: 1 January 2016 and after

Tournaments Under 11 (Open & Girls), player's date of birth: 1 January 2014 and after

Tournaments Under 13 (Open & Girls), player's date of birth: 1 January 2012 and after

Tournaments Under 15 (Open & Girls), player's date of birth: 1 January 2010 and after

Tournaments Under 17 (Open & Girls), player's date of birth: 1 January 2008 and after

2.2 Each ECU member federation can register an unlimited number of players that meet the age requirements of each of the 12 respective sections.

2.3. The Champions (1st place) in the previous European School Championships has the personal right, as invited players, to participate in the tournament of the corresponding age-category or a higher age-category, if they fulfill the conditions of ECU Rules (Article K.1.1). For players with personal rights, the board and lodging costs from the official day of arrival to the breakfast of the day of departure shall be covered by the Organizer.

2.4 According to the ECU Rules (Article B.14.5.1), for youth tournaments the participants are accommodated in the official hotels. Access to playing areas and venues will be allowed only to persons accredited by the Organizer.

2.5. In order to ensure proper championship standards, all players and invited players have to register through their national federations. The entry form should be filled in by the national federation on the official website of the championship. Registration must be done before 18th April (registration deadline). After that date, federations will not be able to register players and invited players, or to modify their registration. After the registration deadline, late registrations must be confirmed by the organizer and the ECU.

2.6. Accreditations, badges and access to the venues and facilities and transfers will be allowed only to registered persons.

3. Venue, Dates & Schedule

3.1. The venue of the championship is Complex Amiral – Comandor - Orfeu.

3.2. Schedule of the championship: 

Thursday        29 May                                        Arrival day

Friday              30 May         09:30         Technical meeting

Friday              30 May         14:30         Opening ceremony

Friday               30 May           15:00                        1st round 

Saturday          31 May          15:00                       2nd round 

Sunday            1 June           15:00                        3rd round

Monday           2 June          15:00                        4th round

Tuesday          3 June         15:00                         5th round

Wednesday    4 June         15:00                        6th round 

Thursday       5 June         15:00                        7th round

Friday            6 June         15:00                        8th round

Saturday        7 June         13:00                        9th round

Saturday         7 June         19:00           Closing ceremony 

Sunday           8 June        20:00              Departure date 

3.3. Players from those federations which are not represented and confirmed as participants at the technical meeting, may not be paired. 

4. Fees

4.1. In accordance with the ECU regulations, the entry fee of 40 EUR is required for each player and invited player.

4.2. According to the ECU regulations, federations are obliged to make the payment of the ECU fee on the ECU bank account before the start of the championship. If the entry fee does not reach the ECU bank account by the end of the second round, these participants will not be paired in subsequent rounds. The ECU fees must be paid to the account of the European Chess Union:

Bank: Credit Suisse, Postfach 357, CH - 6301 Zug

Account number: 1835105-42

Holder: European Chess Union

National Bank Code: 4835

BIC: CRESCHZZXXX

IBAN Code: CH3604835183510542000

4.3. The organization fee of 50 EUR for each participant - player, invited player, head of delegation and accompanying person, must be paid by 18th April to the bank account of the organizer. 

5. Travel conditions

5.1. The organizer will arrange the transfer from Constanta airport, Constanta railway and Constanta bus station to the official hotels. The transfer upon official arrival day (29 May) and upon official departure day (08 June) will be free of charge for all registered participants.

5.2. Transfer from and to Bucharest International Airport is 80E/person/two ways, on the arrival and on departure official days. For other arrival and departure days, conditions for the transfers must be confirmed with the organizers.  

6. System & Rate of Play

6.1. The championship is based on Swiss system in accordance with the ECU Championship Rules and FIDE Rules of Chess. The time rate will be 90 minutes with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one. Default time is 15 minutes after the start of each round.

7. Ranking & Tie-Break System

7.1. The order of players that finish with the same number of points shall be determined by application of the following tie-breaking procedures in sequence, proceeding from (a) to (b) to (c) to (d) to (e) the extent required:

• Results of direct encounters between the tied players.
• Buchholz Cut 1
• Buchholz
• The greater number of games played with black (e) The greater number of wins.

In the case of unplayed games, for the calculation of tiebreak criteria the current FIDE Championship Rules shall be applied. 

8. Qualifying & Prizes

8.1. The first three players in each group will be awarded medals, cups and special prizes in objects; the first six players in each group will be awarded diplomas.

8.2. The champions of each European School Championship category shall have the personal right to participate as an invited players in the 2026 European School Championship of the corresponding or of a higher age category (according to K.1.3).

8.3. All players will receive Certificates of Participation. All players will receive T-shirts.

9. Arbiters & Appeals Committee

9.1. The Chief Arbiter, Deputy Arbiters and the Chairman of the Appeals committee will be appointed by the European Chess Union. 

10. Appeals Procedure

10.1. Protests against decisions of the Chief Arbiter must be submitted in written form to the Chairman of the appeals committee within one hour after the end of the respective game. The protest must be accompanied with the sum of 200 €, as a deposit from the signatory. If the appeal is granted, the sum shall be returned immediately. If the appeal is refused, the deposit is forfeited to the European Chess Union. The appeal must be lodged by the player. The decisions of the Appeals Committee are final.  

11. Lodging & Meals

11.1. Accommodation with full board will be provided from 29 May to 08 June, in the following official hotels: 

 COMPLEX AMIRAL**** – COMANDOR**** – ORFEU***, EURO/night/person

11.2. The federations are served on the first came - first served basis. 

11.3. All participants will be accommodated with full board buffet in single or double rooms. Final registration form, organizing fee of 50 Euro/person and min. 50% of the accommodation must be sent to the organizer no later than 18th April. The booking is considered done, when the respective amount is paid. All participants are accommodated in the official hotels. The rest of the payments must be finalized till 19th May.

Players, coaches and accompanying persons who register after 18th April, pay an extra charge of 100 EUR each and can register only upon availability and under the organizer's confirmation.

11.4. All the above-mentioned payments are non-refundable if the booking is cancelled.

12. Bank account for accommodation and registration:

Payments for accommodation must be deposit at the following bank account:

Account beneficiary holder: ACS SAH CLUB UNIVERSUL

Account holder address: Snagov, Ilfov, Romania

IBAN account number: RO88BUCU1031304257075EUR (payments in Euro)

Bank name &address: Alpha Bank, Romania

BIC/SWIFT code: BUCUROBU

Sender should pay all bank commissions.

12.1. After online registration has been completed by the national federation, an invoice with all necessary bank details for payment will be sent. Organization fees, and min. 50% of the accommodation and transfer costs must be paid to the account of the organizer by 18th April.

12.2. All bank commissions must be paid by the sender, if they are not paid, the organizer will provide an invoice which must be paid before the start of the championship. 

13. Additional Regulations

13.1. Only the players and arbiters shall be allowed in the playing area, except with the express permission of the Chief Arbiter.

13.2. The European Anti-Cheating rules are valid for all the European Championships. (Article Q of the ECU Championship Rules).

13.3. During European Youth Championship, random Anti-Cheating inspections are made.

14. Visas

14.1. Any federation members, players and accompanying persons who need a visa to enter Romania, are requested to contact the Organizer before the registration deadline of 18th April.

14.2. The organizer will provide invitations for visas only after the due payments are wired. Schengen visas are valid in Romania.

15. Contact information

Official website: http://ecuschools2025.com, email: ecuschool2025@gmail.com

Tournament Director: IO Elena CRISTIAN, phone & whatsapp: +40723309101

ROU CF General Secretary: IM Gabriel GRECESCU, email: sg@frsah.ro