On July 23, the European Championship among boys and girls in the age categories of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years in rapid chess and blitz ended in Greece (Thessaloniki).
Maxim Kristofor from Odesa became a double European champion in his age category of 8 years!
On the first day of the chess tournament, July 19, he won 18 out of 18 games to become the blitz champion. Each chess player's blitz has 3 minutes per move and 2 seconds are added on each move.
On July 20-21, after defeating opponents in 8 out of 9 games, Maksym became the rapid champion. He lost the only game in time, being in a winning position. In rapid, players are given 15 minutes to think, plus 10 seconds added with each run.
As Iryna, the champion's mother, told us, they came to Greece for the tournament from England, where they have been since the beginning of the war. Maxim's main competitor was the Briton, who ranked No. 1 on the start sheet.
Due to the flight and the sudden change in climate, Maksym did not sleep the night before the flight.
"How he gathered himself and won everything due to the impossibility of acclimatizing quickly is not known," says Iryna.
Maksym has been playing chess since he was 3 years and 10 months old. He has been participating in tournaments since he was 4 years old. He performed his first adult class at the age of 6,5.
