American Juniors Shine at First-Ever FIDE World Cup in Batumi, Georgia

The first-ever FIDE World Cup for juniors took place in Batumi, Georgia, from June 22 to July 3, featuring Under-12, Under-10, and Under-8 sections for both boys and girls. Among the 198 participants, 20 Americans competed, making up just over a tenth of the field.

In an exciting turn of events, three Americans secured second-place finishes in their respective sections. Stella Xin (Under-8 girls), Aiden Li (Under-8), and Chenxuan Ling (Under-10) all stood on the podium with impressive performances.

The tournament’s unique format included a Swiss event followed by two-game classical matches between players from different subgroups. This allowed all juniors to play nine classical games and experience the thrill of match play characteristic of the FIDE World Cup.

Despite their strong showings, the American players narrowly missed out on first-place finishes in their head-to-head matches. Chenxuan Ling had a chance to clinch victory in the Under-10 open but fell short in a rapid game. Aiden Li and Stella Xin also came close to gold but settled for second place in their sections.

Other American participants showcased their skills, with CM Ethan Guo finishing fifth in the Under-12 open and WFM Laurie Qiu placing 11th in the Under-12 girls section. WCM Romi Milner was the top American finisher in the Under-10 girls section, securing eighth place overall.

Overall, the FIDE World Cup for juniors was a thrilling event that highlighted the talent and competitive spirit of young chess players from around the world. Fans can relive the action by viewing all the games from the preliminary sections online and checking out the final standings on Chess-Results.com.