The World Rapid & Blitz Cadet Chess Championship 2024, hosted at the Fafa Resort & Spa Hotel in Durres, Albania, from April 25-29, has concluded with great success. The event brought together 375 participants from 43 countries for the rapid tournament and 336 players from 43 countries for the blitz event, showing the global love for chess among young players.
The championship was honored by the presence of the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Bajram Begaj, at the opening ceremony. His attendance added prestige to the event, and he officially declared the championship open. He made the first symbolic move in the game between Amina Hoti (Albania) and Gunesh Bayramova (Turkmenistan) in Girls U-8 section to kick off the competition.
Esteemed guests, including FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich together with the President of the Albanian Chess Federation, President of the Balkan Chess Federation, Erald Dervishi, President of European Chess Union Zurab Azmaiparashvili and President of the Albanian Olympic Committee Fidel Ylli attended the closing ceremony to celebrate and honor the winners. They warmly welcomed participants, parents, coaches, and guests and awarded the top five finishers in each category with diplomas, medals, cups, and prizes.
This year’s championship marked a significant milestone in cadet chess by offering over $20,000 in prizes, a first in the history of such events. This significant prize fund highlights the growing importance and recognition of cadet chess on the global stage.
Special thanks to our sponsors, DGT company for their support and contributions. DGT provided a DGT Pegasus, the first chess board dedicated to online play, to the top three blitz players in each category. Additionally, DGT wished the winners much fun in playing chess with their well-deserved prizes.
We’re grateful to ChessKid.com for giving one-year gold ChessKid memberships to top finishers. These prizes will help the young players develop their chess skills further.
The successful organization of this championship would not have been possible without the unwavering support of FIDE, the Albanian Chess Federation, the Olympic Committee of Albania, the Ministry of Sport of Albania, and the Chess Space company. Their dedication and collaboration were instrumental in ensuring the smooth organization and execution of the event, creating an unforgettable experience for all participants and attendees.
In conclusion, the World Rapid & Blitz Cadet Chess Championship 2024 was a big success, thanks to everyone involved. We look forward to more exciting events in the future.
