The European Youth Chess Championship 2025 held at the Jadranski Sajam venue in Budva, Montenegro saw seven Maltese chess players compete in categories from U8 to U16. Consisting of a 9-round Swiss tournament, the competition placed these young players up against some of Europe’s strongest competitors.
This celebration is all about the incredible courage and determination needed to face seasoned pros. However, these victories go beyond luck and are the final result of all the time and effort put into their skills. Training happens several times a week, constantly going over openings and endgames, and analyzing every single move. All that behind-the-scenes work is what earned them a spot on the biggest European youth chess platforms.
Important Bits from Team Malta:
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Matthew Portelli – U14 Open (born 2011)
Scored 5/9 in the Open U14 section, including International Masters and FIDE Masters. Matthew defeated a 2300+ rated FIDE Master and secured draws against higher-rated players. At just 14, he delivered an extraordinary achievement. -
Leonardo Zangrilli – U16 Open (born 2010)
He smashed in the Open U16 with a 3/9 score, blowing past his rating to achieve wins against players rated over 2000. Winning against older, stronger opponents shows off incredible talent and skills. -
John Refalo – U12 Open (born 2013)
He secured 3.5/9 in the Open U12 section, taking on players rated up to 2000. This performance demonstrates incredible maturity and consistency. -
Keshav Reyansh – U10 Open (born 2015)
He scored 3/9 in the Open U10 section, regularly facing opponents rated 1800–2100. Holding an 1813-rated player to a draw is a massive win for a player that young. -
Nikol Borg – U08 Open (born 2017)
He scored 5/9 in the Open U8 section. He shook off two early defeats and dominated the rest of the games, earning five wins. A truly incredible performance from Malta’s youngest competitor. -
Yunlong Wang – Girls U14 (born 2012)
She secured 3/9 in the Girls U14 section, earning a crucial 20 Elo points. Her wins against strong international opponents highlight her talent and massive potential. -
Hayley Thornton – Girls U14 (born 2011)
Scored 3/9, including a bye, in the Girls U14 section. She competed strongly and held her own against a field full of elite, highly rated opponents.
Building the Next Generation of Chess Masters
These results underline the growing strength and depth of Malta’s junior chess talent. Even better, playing against higher-rated and sometimes titled international opponents gave each player invaluable experience that will help shape Malta’s chess stars of the future.
The Malta Chess Federation put together the delegation, and Nina Thornton coordinated and traveled with the team to back them up throughout the whole event.
These young players fill Malta with pride for competing in the European Youth Chess Championship! Their discipline, courage, and great sportsmanship prove one thing: Malta’s youth chess scene is massive, strong, and ready for the future. Naturally, Malta and the Maltese chess community commend the players for their success.
