The International Schools Chess Festival in the city of Ploiești, Romania, ended in triumph for the Lviv Academic Gymnasium, Ukraine, with a perfect score of 7 wins 7 matches, followed by Otilia Cazimir School from Iasi 6/7, and School no. 10 from Bacau, both from Romania.

Organized by ISCU and Romanian Chess Federation under the auspices of FIDE, the event attracted 75 school teams from Mexico, Israel, Poland, Greece, Moldova, Ukraine and Romania (from 19 different counties).

On a free day, an open-air blitz event was held in the central park of Ploiesti. The organizers also offered sightseeing tours for tours “Footprints of Dracula” and Bucharest tour to all the participants.

The champion, Lviv Academic Gymnasium, received a special award established by FIDE: a travelling grant and accommodation at the World Schools Team Championship, which will take place in Aktau, Kazakhstan, from August 3-8, 2023.

The top-finishing teams were presented with special gifts and electronic devices from the partners Rompetrol and Aqua Carpatica. At the awarding ceremony, Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy-Chair FIDE Management Board, delivered a video message on behalf of FIDE, which was warmly appreciated by the audience.

There was also a separate ranking in the boys’ section, won by “Saint Vasile” school from Ploiesti, Romania. The team received the trophy “Alexander Kostyev”, named after Professor Kostyev, the founder of ISCU and the initiator of World and European School events.

The girls’ section saw the victory of the Academic Gymnasium, Lviv, Ukraine, lifting the “Elisabeta Polihroniade” trophy. Elisabeta Polihroniade, an honorary member of FIDE and vice-president of ISCU was a true chess legend in Romania and a great promoter of chess in schools.

Photos: promarkstudio.com/

Official website: iscu.info/club-activities/