27/07/2026
The Grand Prize of the International Children and Youth Chess Festival “Rudaga–Kaissa 2026” Travels to England
For the fourteenth consecutive year, the International Children and Youth Chess Festival Rudaga–Kaissa was held in Jūrmala, bringing together children, parents, coaches, and chess enthusiasts from around the world. Today, it is recognized as one of the largest and warmest international children's chess festivals in the Baltic region.
This year, the festival welcomed more than 200 young chess players from 11 countries. For the first time, participants arrived from Iceland and France, while players from England, Germany, Switzerland, the United States, Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, and Latvia once again took part in the event.
Throughout the week, participants competed in classical chess tournaments for different playing levels, FIDE-rated competitions, rapid chess, and blitz tournaments.
The overall champion of the festival was Andrey Gorshkov (England), who won the grand cash prize of €300 and received a unique handmade Chess King Trophy created by Jūrmala artist Natalia Bulakha.
"We truly believe that every child is talented. Our task is simply to create the conditions in which that talent can fully blossom.
Over the past fourteen years, Rudaga–Kaissa has become an important milestone in the journey of many talented young chess players. Several Latvian girls who once competed in our tournaments later went on to win medals at the European and World Chess Championships in their respective age categories, including Agnessa Stepania Ter-Avetisyan, Alena Tolmacheva, and Maria Kuznetsova.
We always do everything possible to ensure that the festival is much more than just a tournament for participants, their families, and coaches. Here, children from different countries become friends, parents meet like-minded people, every painful defeat is met with support, and every beautiful victory is celebrated by dozens of people who sincerely rejoice in the young player's success.
Alongside the tournaments, we traditionally organize educational meetings and masterclasses with outstanding chess grandmasters."
— Inessa Testeleca, Director of Rudaga–Kaissa 2026
One of the highlights of the festival was the simultaneous exhibition given by Grandmaster Alexei Shirov.
Another memorable event was the DICE Chess Masterclass, led by Matīss Mustaps together with International Master Vladimir Sveshnikov. Vladimir's father, Grandmaster Evgeny Sveshnikov (1950–2021), was a frequent guest at the festival over many years, giving simultaneous exhibitions, masterclasses, and generously sharing his remarkable chess knowledge with young players.
DICE Chess is a unique variation of chess in which traditional chess pieces are combined with dice, making chance an exciting strategic element of the game.
According to Inessa Testeleca, another cherished festival tradition is Chess Yoga:
"Before the games and after long, demanding tournament days, children gather together for concentration exercises, breathing practices, and playful yoga sessions. These classes help them regain energy, reduce stress, improve emotional balance, and feel more confident during competitions."
Another beloved tradition is selecting the festival's Mini Chess Prince and Mini Chess Princess.
Inessa Testeleca expressed heartfelt gratitude to Luīza Romanova — Vice Mrs. Latvia 2019, Miss Elite Transcontinental 2025, and organizer of the MID Festival — who warmly presented awards to the festival's youngest participants:
Mini Chess Princess Rudaga–Kaissa 2026 — Varvara Zaligina (born in 2021)
Mini Chess Prince Rudaga–Kaissa 2026 — Aleksandr Kharitonov (born in 2021)
"Children come to the tournament dreaming of medals, but they return for the friendships, the unique atmosphere, the inspiration, the support, and the feeling that they are truly believed in.
That is why the Rudaga–Kaissa family continues to grow every year.
And that is our greatest victory."
— Inessa Testeleca
About the Festival
The International Children and Youth Chess Festival Rudaga–Kaissa 2026 was held 13–19 July 2026 at Semarah Hotel Lielupe, Bulduru prospekts 64/68, Jūrmala, Latvia.
The tournaments were organized in accordance with FIDE regulations, and results were submitted for FIDE rating in the respective groups.
The festival was organized by the educational association Rudaga Plus in cooperation with:
International Chess Federation (FIDE)
Latvian Chess Federation
Jūrmala State City Municipality
Jūrmala Education Board
Kaissa Chess Association
Rudaga–Kaissa 2026 Tournament Results
Classical Chess (Groups A–B / C–F)
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1451268.aspx?lan=11&art=0&SNode=S0
https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1451269.aspx?lan=11&art=1&rd=8&SNode=S0
https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1429736.aspx?lan=11&art=0&SNode=S0
Rapid Chess
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1451761.aspx?lan=11&art=0&SNode=S0
Blitz
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1452141.aspx?lan=11&art=0&SNode=S0
Festival Photos
Official FIDE photographer Mark Livsh*tz
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uURfU2iSaCPycV5mnVvkC5EAICq9tXks
Additional Information
Festival Director: Inessa Testeleca
Phone: +371 29236910
E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/rudagakaissa
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rudagakaissachess/
THANK YOU!
Our sincere gratitude goes to the Jūrmala State City Municipality, the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Latvian Chess Federation, the Riga Chess School, the Riga Chess Federation, and especially Alberts Cimiņš for many years of cooperation and their invaluable contribution to the development of children's chess.
A special thank you goes to Luīza Romanova — Vice Mrs. Latvia 2019, Miss Elite Transcontinental 2025, and organizer of the MID Festival — for warmly presenting awards to our youngest festival participants, the Mini Chess Prince and Mini Chess Princess Rudaga–Kaissa 2026 nominees.
Our deepest appreciation goes to International Arbiter Agapi Ter-Avetisyan, Chief Arbiter of the festival, for the impeccable organization of the competitions, outstanding professionalism, and fair officiating.
We also thank International Arbiter Diana Matisone, who brilliantly combined her roles as tournament arbiter and official photographer throughout the festival, capturing thousands of genuine emotions and unforgettable moments.
Special thanks to Mark Livsh*tz, official FIDE photographer, who has been an indispensable member of the Rudaga–Kaissa family for five consecutive years. Thanks to his professionalism, the brightest moments of our festival reach audiences far beyond Latvia.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Roman Testelec, who consistently provides the festival's technical support and is always ready to help solve any organizational challenge.
Thank you to our long-standing administrators and coordinators, Irina Ter-Tatchatyan and Yulia Dmitrenko, without whom the festival simply would not be possible.
Warm thanks to our wonderful volunteers — Agnessa, Kristina, and Ilya — for their energy, dedication, responsibility, and kindness.
Special appreciation goes to our friends and partners:
DICE Chess, Iveta Pakramoviča, Sandijs Krastiņš, Reāls Piedzīvojums, Fielmann Latvia, Aizkraukles Saldumi, Sky Hunters, Titanium, JS.DEKOR.lv, STS Group, and our Press Secretary Daina Vārpiņa, whose outstanding work helped ensure extensive media coverage of the festival both in Latvia and internationally.
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the entire team of Semarah Hotel Lielupe.
For more than ten years, the hotel's staff has lived the festival spirit together with us, welcoming participants from all over the world with unwavering professionalism, care, and genuine Latvian hospitality.
Over the years, they have become not only trusted partners but also an important part of the Rudaga–Kaissa family.
Our sincere thanks also go to all of our coaches, who help children become stronger not only at the chessboard but also in life.
And, of course, our greatest gratitude belongs to our children and their parents.
Thank you for your trust.
Thank you for your emotions.
Thank you for choosing Rudaga–Kaissa once again this year. @подписчики Chess tournament Rudaga - Kaissa Irina Ter-tatchatyan Agapi Ter-Avetisjan Fielmann SkyHunters.lv telescope - microscope and more Lielupe by Semarah Hotels