The Armenian international master won the 2026 boys’ championship in Crete, repeating his 2025 victory and becoming a two-time European champion. Nare Isakhanyan also won silver in the girls’ under-12 event and Tigran Hambardzumyan took bronze in the boys’ under-14 event.
Vahe Sukiasyan won the 2026 European boys’ under-18 chess championship in Hersonissos, on the Greek island of Crete, retaining the title he won in 2025. The Chess Federation of Armenia announced his victory on 12 November and congratulated Sukiasyan and his coach, grandmaster Tigran Harutyunyan.
International master Sukiasyan entered the final round as the sole leader with 7 points from 8 rounds, having defeated Azerbaijani international master Tunar Davudov in the penultimate round. He had shared first through third place with 4.5 points after five rounds and first and second with 6 after seven.
Nare Isakhanyan won silver in the girls’ under-12 competition with 7.5 points from 9 games. She shared second and third on points and took second on tiebreaks, the federation said.
FIDE master Tigran Hambardzumyan earned bronze in the boys’ under-14 competition with 7 points from 9 games. He shared third and fourth on points and placed third on tiebreaks.
The European Chess Union set a 9-round Swiss format, in which players face opponents with similar scores. Each player had 90 minutes plus 30 seconds added for each move. The union said the top three in each group would receive medals, and the top five cups, prizes and electronic diplomas.
In a Mediamax profile, Sukiasyan named becoming a grandmaster and world champion as his goals.
Amir Tulegenov, Pavithra R V, Aqil Ainuddin Naufal Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah, Anastasiia Osadchuk, Javkhlan Bayarjargal and Dolgormaa Lkhavgasuren won the six categories in Klang. Kazakhstan’s Tulegenov won Open U2300 with 7/9. India’s Pavithra R V and Ukraine’s Anastasiia Osadchuk each scored 7½/9; Malaysia’s Aqil Ainuddin Naufal Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah scored 8/9, while Mongolia’s Javkhlan Bayarjargal scored 8½/9 and Dolgormaa Lkhavgasuren 7½/9.
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Haik Martirosyan recovered from a first-game loss to beat Shakhriyar Mamedyarov on 11 November, leaving their opening group-stage match tied 1–1. Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri drew both games. Carlsen had won the November 10 opening blitz unbeaten on 7/9, beating Martirosyan in the final round; Martirosyan finished 13th with 4.5 points.
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Armenia’s international master scored 9.5/13 in Al Ain, taking third on tie-breaks after sharing second through fourth place.
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