Chess: 36th FIDE World Youth Championship champions crowned

After nearly two weeks of competition in Santa Catarina, Brazil, the 36th FIDE World Youth Championship champions have been crowned.

The prestigious event that was held between October 28 and November 9 saw 520 players from 62 countries compete against one another in various Under-18 events.

The highlights from the tournament included Afruza Khamdamova (Uzbekistan) securing the U16s Girls title with one round to spare after scoring 10.5 points out of 11.

Another highlight was GM (grandmaster) Aleksey Grebnev's confirmation of his status as the favourite of the Open U18s category by winning without a single loss.

U14s Girls

First: Diana Khafizova (FIDE) – 9
Second: Victoria Smietanska (Poland) – 8.5
Third: Mariya Vlasova (FIDE) – 8.5

U14s Open

First: Patrik Ciesllak (Poland)  – 8.5
Second: Edgar Mamedov (Kazakhstan) – 8.5
Third: Sauat Nurgaliyev (Kazakhstan) – 8.5

U16s Girls

First: Afruza Khamdanova (Uzbekistan) – 10.5
Second: Yana Zhapova (FIDE) – 8
Third: Charis Peglau (Germany) – 8

U16s Open

First: Havier Aguererra Habans (Spain) – 9
Second: Krszysztof Raczek (Poland) – 8.5
Third: Nikita Kalinin (FIDE) – 8.5

U18s Girls

First: Olga Karmanova (FIDE) – 9
Second: Amina Kairbekova (Kazakhstan) – 9
Third: Galina Mikheeva (FIDE) – 8

U18s Open

First: Alexey Grebnev (FIDE) – 9
Second: Aldiyar Ansat (Kazakhstan) – 8.5
Third: Ian Klimkowski (Poland) – 8