Regulations

26th European Youth Championship

Tallinn, Estonia – 01.08.2026 – 09.08.2026

Rules & Regulations

1. General Information

1.1. The championship will be held from 1st of August to 9th of August in Tallinn, Estonia. Applications, by the national Federation, have to be submitted to the European Youth Championship website https://eyc.europedraughts.org, no later than 15th of June 2026.

1.2. Venue: Hotel Dzingel, Männiku tee 89, Tallinn, Estonia

1.3. There will be 10 separate groups:       

Under the auspices of the European Draughts Confederation (EDC), the Estonian Draughts Federation (EDF) will organize the 26th European Youth Championship.

• U27 Open – born 1st of January 2000 or later;

• U27 Girls – born 1st of January 2000 or later;

• Juniors Open – born 1st of January 2007 or later;

• Juniors Girls – born 1st of January 2007 or later;

• Cadets Open – born 1st of January 2010 or later;

• Cadets Girls – born 1st of January 2010 or later;

• Mini Cadets Open – born 1st of January 2013 or later;

• Mini Cadets Girls – born 1st of January 2013 or later;

• Hopes Open – born 1st of January 2016 or later;

• Hopes Girls – born 1st of January 2016 or later.

 

The competition includes classic, rapid, and blitz tournaments for each of the 10 groups. Both boys and girls may participate in the open tournament.

 

2. Schedule

 

3. Registrations

3.1. Registrations to be done by the national federations. Only the members of the national federations affiliated to the FMJD whose membership is not suspended can participate. The players must have the citizenship of the Federation they represent or be members of this federation according to FMJD rules. EDC has the right to invite some players from new countries (never been members of FMJD). The maximum number of participants per federation in each group is four (4). If in a group the number of players is odd, the organizing federation has the right to register an extra player for making even.

3.2. The deadline for submitting applications is 15 June 2026. Applications from national federations only must be submitted to the EDC via the online registration system on the EYC website: https://eyc.europedraughts.org. The username and instructions for logging into the system will be sent to the official email address of each federation. If a federation has not received the instructions by 15 May 2026, it should contact the organizer of the tournament by email at eyc@europedraughts.org. 

 

4. Financial conditions

4.1 Inscription fees

      1) Classic Championships: 40 € (per player);

       2) Blitz Championships: 10 € (per player);

       3) Rapid Championships: 10 € (per player);

Inscription fees must be paid before the start of the Championship. There are two payment options.

4.2 If payment is made by bank transfer, the inscription fees must reach the EDC account no later than 30 June 2026.

4.3 Alternatively, the inscription fees may be paid in cash no later than 31 July 2026. For participation only in the Rapid Championship, cash payment must be made no later than 7 August 2026, and for participation only in the Blitz Championship, no later than 8 August 2026. Cash payment must be agreed in advance with the EDC by email no later than 30 June 2026.

If the inscription fee is paid on or after 1 July 2026, or if it is paid in cash, an additional fee of €10 per player per discipline (Classic, Rapid, Blitz) will apply.

 

4.3 Bank account for fees

Invoices for participation fees, together with the bank details, will be available for all federations to download through the online registration system after registration. When making a bank transfer, the invoice number must be stated in the payment details.

 

5. Accommodation

5.1 All costs for travel, insurance and visa expenses as well as travelling, any insurance cover, food and lodging and visa expenses for players and accompanying persons must be paid by their national federations or by themselves.

 

The participants of the competition will be accommodated at Hotel Dzingel in Tallinn, Estonia. Meals will be provided at the hotel.

All participants in the tournaments are required to stay at the hotel provided by the organizer.

Room reservations are made through the online registration system at https://eyc.europedraughts.org, where all available rooms, their capacities, and prices are displayed. The room rate always includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The same system also allows invoices to be generated after the reservation has been made, according to the payer’s requirements, whether for a federation, club, private individual, or other entity.

Payment for reserved rooms must be made within five days. Otherwise, the reservation will be cancelled and the rooms may be booked by other applicants. This five-day payment deadline does not apply if the cash payment option has been selected in the online system. If a child aged 12 or under is registered in a room, a discount of €5 per child per night will be applied to the room rate. For example, if there are two children aged 12 or under in a triple room, the room rate will be €10 lower per night. All prices are calculated automatically by the registration system. 

5.2 Hotel Dzingel rates

5.3 Bank account for accommodation

All invoices, bank details, information on room availability, and accommodation reservations are handled exclusively through the online system on the EYC website: https://eyc.europedraughts.org. When making a bank transfer, the invoice number must always be indicated in the payment details. 

5.3.1 Accommodations have to be paid by bank transfer not later than 20th of July 2026 or in cash before the opening ceremony. In the event of cash payment, an additional fee of €10 will be charged, and the full invoice must be settled no later than 31 July 2026. Federations wishing to pay in cash must indicate this by selecting the appropriate option in the online reservation system. In such cases, the rooms will be reserved, and the federation accepts the obligation to pay the invoice in cash by 31 July 2026. 

5.3.2 Accommodation booking is made via the competition website at https://eyc.europedraughts.org. The number of different room types is limited, and those who book and pay the invoice earlier will have a wider choice.

5.3.3 Federations may generate their own invoices through the registration system and designate the payer as any appropriate person or entity, such as a federation, club, private individual, or other institution. Each delegation may also create multiple separate invoices according to its own needs, for example by assigning the accommodation costs of certain players to a club and the accommodation costs of the remaining players to the federation. However, only one invoice may be generated for each player or visitor. Once a player or visitor has been included in an invoice, it is no longer possible to generate another invoice for that same person.

5.4 How to reach Tallinn

Tallinn can be reached by plane, bus, ferry or car. If you arrive by plane, the nearest airport is Tallinn Airport. Transfer to Hotel Dzingel can be arranged by taxi, public transport, or organizer’s transfer service if requested separately.

Transfers may also be ordered through the online system on the EYC website. The price depends on the number of passengers and other relevant details, and an offer will be provided after the federation has entered the necessary information in the system.

 

6. Prizes

6.1 Medals for the first three places in each tournament (Classic, Rapid and Blitz);

6.2 Cups for the first three places in each tournament (Classic, Rapid and Blitz);

6.3 Diplomas for the first three places in each tournament (Classic, Rapid and Blitz);

6.4 Cups for medalists in the National teams’ classifications (including Rapid and Blitz).

 

7. Tournament information

7.1 The Jury d’Appel will consist of the following members:

President of the Jury: Johan Demasure, Belgium
Members: Aare Harak, Estonia; Jan Zioltkowski, Germany

7.2 Any protest to Jury d'Appel should be given in written form (in English) to the main referee no later than 10 minutes after the game. Each protest is valid only after paying a deposit of 100 euro. The deposit will be returned only if a protest is accepted.

7.3 Before the beginning of the Championship (at the 31st July evening), a preliminary meeting will be held by the Main Referee who will expound the present regulations to players, official representatives, coaches and the press.

7.4 Depending on the Main Referee decision Swiss or round robin tournaments will be played. In case of unequal number of participants in some tournaments, other tournaments systems can be used according to the Main Referee decision in consultation with EDC official representatives.

7.5 Time control in classic tournament is 80’ + 1’ per move (Fisher system).

7.6 Final places are determined according to FMJD rules applying to the corresponding tournament system. Barrages should not be played. Only in case of all criteria of challengers for champion’s title being equal, barrage should be played (2 games with the time control 5’ + 3” per move (Fisher system) and if champion will still not be specified, then games with time control 3’ + 2” per move till the first winning). Details will be announced by the Main Referee after consultations with EDC official representatives.

7.7 On 8th of August the European Youth Rapid Championship will be played. There is no limit to the number of players from one federation. The European Youth Rapid Championship will be played with the time control 15’ + 5” per move (Fisher system). Details will be announced by the Main Referee after consultations with EDC official representatives.

7.8 On 9th of August the European Youth Blitz Championship will be played. There is no limit to the number of players from one federation. The European Youth Blitz Championship will be played with the time control 5’ + 3” per move (Fisher system). Details will be announced by the Main Referee after consultations with EDC official representatives.

 

8. National teams

8.1 National teams results are determined on the basis of individual results of players who represent this national federation. Not more than 3 players’ results (according to applications given by national federations official representatives before the beginning of the Championship) can be counted.

8.2 1st place gives to the national team 70 points, 2nd place – 50 points, 3rd place – 40 points, 4th place – 30 points, 5th place – 20 points, 6th place – 10 points, 7th place – 9 points, 8th place – 8 points, 9th place – 7 points, 10th place – 6 points, 11th place – 5 points, 12th place – 4 points, 13th place – 3 points, 14th place – 2 points, 15th place and so on until the last place – 1 point. If the number of points are equal, the number of 1st places, then 2nd, 3rd and so on places decide.

 

9. Other questions regarding tournament regulations

In any other cases – FMJD rules decide.

In the case of something not being clear in the FMJD regulations or in this regulation, the decision will be made by the main referee in consultation with the organization and the EDC tournament director.

 

10. Referee

The tournament will be supervised by Magda Pawlowska

 

11. Visas and other requests

Requests have to be sent to eyc@europedraughts.org (in a reasonable time to be released).

 

12. Web

Official site of the competition: https://eyc.europedraughts.org

Tallinn, 15.04.2026