Lake Queen Summer Youth Chess Festival 2026
The Lake Queen Summer Youth Chess Festival 2026 will take place from September 5 to 8, 2026, at Hotel Drim in Struga, North Macedonia. The seventh edition offers four days of standard chess for young players from U8 to U20.
The festival includes two connected programs. Rising Stars provides five age-group tournaments, while Battle of Champions brings together leading players from the 2026 national youth championships.
Rising Stars offers a guaranteed cash prize fund of 30,000 MKD / approx. €500 / approx. $560. Battle of Champions also awards cash prizes to the winners of its three tournaments, together with trophies, medals, certificates, and special awards.
📌 Event Details
| 📅 Dates | September 5–8, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Struga, North Macedonia |
| 🏟️ Venue | Hotel Drim – Congress Hall – Kej Boris Kidric 51, Struga, North Macedonia |
| 🏛️ Organizer | Chess Club “Youth Chess School” Struga |
| ♟️ Festival Programs | Rising Stars and Battle of Champions |
| 🎓 Age Categories | U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18 and U20 |
| 🔢 Rounds | Rising Stars: 7 rounds; Battle of Champions: 7 rounds planned |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated in the eligible tournaments |
| ⏱️ Time Controls | From 30 minutes + 10 seconds to 60 minutes + 30 seconds |
| 💰 Confirmed Prize Fund | Rising Stars: 30,000 MKD / approx. €500 / approx. $560 |
| 📝 Registration Deadline | September 1, 2026 |
| 🛏️ Early Hotel Deadline | August 15, 2026 |
| 👤 Tournament Director | Gjoko Koteski |
| ⚖️ Chief Arbiter | NA Gjoko Koteski |
| ⚖️ Deputy Chief Arbiter | NA Boris Lusheski |
| ♟️ Chess-Results – Rising Stars | https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1450341.aspx?lan=1&flag=30&turdet=YES&SNode=S0 |
| ♟️ Chess-Results – Battle of Champions | https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1451056.aspx?lan=1&SNode=S0 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Rising Stars
Rising Stars follows a seven-round Swiss system under the FIDE Laws of Chess for standard chess.
The organizer may merge age groups or adjust the tournament structure when the final number of participants requires a change.
| Tournament | Category | Time Control | FIDE Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | U20 | 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move | Yes |
| B | U16 | 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move | Yes |
| C | U12 | 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move | Yes |
| D | U10 | 30 minutes + 30 seconds per move | — |
| E | U8 | 30 minutes + 10 seconds per move | — |
Players may enter an older age category. However, they may not enter a younger category than the one that corresponds to their year of birth.
Battle of Champions
Battle of Champions includes three tournaments. Boys and girls compete together within each tournament.
The organizer plans seven rounds and may use either a Swiss system or Berger system, depending on the final number of players.
| Tournament | Category | Eligibility | Time Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | U18 | Born in 2008 or later | 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| B | U14 | Born in 2012 or later | 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| C | U10 | Born in 2016 or later | 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
All three Battle of Champions tournaments are FIDE rated.
Tie-Break Criteria – Rising Stars
| Order | Criterion |
|---|---|
| 1 | Buchholz, excluding the lowest result |
| 2 | Buchholz |
| 3 | Greater number of wins |
| 4 | Progressive score |
Tie-Break Criteria – Battle of Champions
| Order | Criterion |
|---|---|
| 1 | Direct encounter |
| 2 | Buchholz, excluding the lowest result |
| 3 | Buchholz |
| 4 | Sonneborn-Berger |
🏆 Prize Fund
Rising Stars
Rising Stars offers a guaranteed cash prize fund of 30,000 MKD / approx. €500 / approx. $560.
Cash prizes apply to Tournaments A, B, and C. Meanwhile, participants in Tournaments D and E compete for material prizes.
Cash Prize Breakdown
| Prize | Tournament A – U20 | Tournament B – U16 | Tournament C – U12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st Place | 5,000 MKD / approx. $100 | 3,500 MKD / approx. $70 | 3,000 MKD / approx. $60 |
| 🥈 2nd Place | 3,000 MKD / approx. $60 | 2,500 MKD / approx. $50 | 2,000 MKD / approx. $40 |
| 🥉 3rd Place | 2,000 MKD / approx. $40 | 1,500 MKD / approx. $30 | 1,500 MKD / approx. $30 |
| 👧 Best Female Player | 1,000 MKD / approx. $20 | 1,000 MKD / approx. $20 | 1,000 MKD / approx. $20 |
| 📍 Best Player from Struga | 1,000 MKD / approx. $20 | 1,000 MKD / approx. $20 | 1,000 MKD / approx. $20 |
| Total Allocation | 12,000 MKD / approx. $230 | 9,500 MKD / approx. $180 | 8,500 MKD / approx. $160 |
Additional Rising Stars Awards
| Award | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Overall Places | Trophies and medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in every tournament |
| 🥇 Age Awards | Gold medals for the best U18 and U14 players |
| 👧 Girls’ Awards | Gold, silver and bronze medals for girls in every tournament |
| 📍 Struga Awards | Gold medal for the best player from Struga in every tournament |
| 👶 Youngest Participant | Gold medal |
| 📜 Participation | Certificate for every participant |
| 🎁 U10 and U8 | Material prizes for participants in Tournaments D and E |
Battle of Champions Awards
The winner of each Battle of Champions tournament receives a cash prize.
| Award | Details |
|---|---|
| 💵 Tournament Winners | Cash prize for the winner of Tournaments A, B and C |
| 🏆 Overall Places | Trophies and medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
| 🥇 Age Awards | Gold medals for the best U16, U12 and U8 players |
| 👧 Girls’ Awards | Gold medal for the highest-placed girl in each tournament |
| 👶 Youngest Participant | Gold medal |
| 📜 Participation | Certificate for every participant |
Special prizes are not cumulative. If a player wins a prize in the general classification, the next eligible player receives the special prize.
♟️ Sections / Groups
Rising Stars
| Tournament | Category | Year of Birth |
|---|---|---|
| A | U20 | Born in 2006 or later |
| B | U16 | Born in 2010 or later |
| C | U12 | Born in 2014 or later |
| D | U10 | Born in 2016 or later |
| E | U8 | Born in 2018 or later |
Players may compete in an older age category. However, they cannot enter a younger age category than the one that corresponds to their year of birth.
The organizer may merge categories when the number of registered players makes this necessary.
Battle of Champions
Battle of Champions is open primarily to players who finished 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 or U18 sections of a 2026 national youth championship.
The qualification applies to both the Open and Girls sections.
| Tournament | Category | Year of Birth |
|---|---|---|
| A | U18 | Born in 2008 or later |
| B | U14 | Born in 2012 or later |
| C | U10 | Born in 2016 or later |
Players must provide proof of their final position in the relevant national youth championship.
The organizer may also invite players who do not meet the standard qualification criteria.
📅 Schedule
Rising Stars Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, September 5 | — | Arrival |
| Saturday, September 5 | 10:30 | In-person registration deadline |
| Saturday, September 5 | 11:00 | Opening ceremony |
| Saturday, September 5 | 11:30 | Round 1 |
| Saturday, September 5 | 17:00 | Round 2 |
| Sunday, September 6 | 10:00 | Round 3 |
| Sunday, September 6 | 17:00 | Round 4 |
| Monday, September 7 | 10:00 | Round 5 |
| Monday, September 7 | 17:00 | Round 6 |
| Tuesday, September 8 | 09:00 | Round 7 |
| Tuesday, September 8 | After the event | Departure |
The closing ceremony will begin 30 minutes after the final game ends.
Battle of Champions Schedule
Battle of Champions is planned as a seven-round event.
The organizer will finalize the detailed round times after confirming the number of participants in each tournament.
All players must complete in-person confirmation at Hotel Drim by 10:30 on September 5, 2026.
📝 Registration
Players must submit their online registration by September 1, 2026.
In addition, every player must confirm participation in person at the playing hall by 10:30 on September 5.
Registration Links
| Registration | Link |
|---|---|
| ⭐ Rising Stars | https://form.jotform.com/211842092085049 |
| 🏆 Battle of Champions | https://form.jotform.com/261853791201355 |
| 🛏️ Hotel Reservation | https://form.jotform.com/231144201273441 |
Entry Fees
| Competition | Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Rising Stars A | U20 | 900 MKD / approx. $20 |
| Rising Stars B | U16 | 800 MKD / approx. $20 |
| Rising Stars C | U12 | 600 MKD / approx. $20 |
| Rising Stars D | U10 | 500 MKD / approx. $10 |
| Rising Stars E | U8 | 500 MKD / approx. $10 |
| Battle of Champions | All tournaments | 800 MKD / approx. $20 |
Important Deadlines
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| 🛏️ Early Hotel Reservation | August 15, 2026 |
| 📝 Player Registration | September 1, 2026 |
| 🏨 Final Hotel Reservation | September 1, 2026 |
| ✅ In-Person Confirmation | September 5, 2026, by 10:30 |
🏛️ Organizer
Chess Club “Youth Chess School” Struga organizes the Lake Queen Summer Youth Chess Festival 2026.
The club manages the Rising Stars and Battle of Champions programs, player registration, accommodation reservations, competition arrangements, and festival communication.
| Contact Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 👤 Tournament Director | Gjoko Koteski |
| lake_queen@yahoo.com | |
| 📞 Phone | +389 77 897 218 |
| https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057161631716 |
📍 Venue
Hotel Drim – Congress Hall – Kej Boris Kidric 51, Struga, North Macedonia.
Hotel Drim stands beside Lake Ohrid and the Black Drim River in central Struga. The hotel will host the tournaments, registration, opening ceremony, and closing ceremony.
| Venue Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏟️ Playing Hall | Congress Hall, Hotel Drim |
| 📍 Address | Kej Boris Kidric 51, Struga, North Macedonia |
| 🌐 Website | https://drim.com.mk/en/home/ |
| sales@drim.com.mk | |
| 📞 Phone | +389 46 785 800 |
Accommodation
The festival accommodation package is valid from September 4 to 8, 2026.
Prices apply to players and accompanying persons. All listed prices include full board, and participants must make reservations through the organizer.
| Room Type | Full-Board Price per Person |
|---|---|
| 🛏️ Single Room | €75 / approx. $90 |
| 🛏️ Double Room | €55 / approx. $70 |
| 🛏️ Triple or Quadruple Room | €50 / approx. $60 |
| 👶 Children up to 6 Years | Free |
| 🧒 Children up to 12 Years with Two Adults | €32 / approx. $40 |
Reservations completed by August 15, 2026, receive a 5% early-booking discount.
The accommodation package includes access to the hotel’s spa center, fitness center, and bowling alley.
✈️ How to Get There
Hotel Drim is located in central Struga. Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport is the nearest airport, around 9 kilometers from the city.
| Travel Option | Recommended Route |
|---|---|
| ✈️ From Ohrid Airport | Take a taxi or arrange a private transfer directly to Hotel Drim. The journey normally takes around 20 minutes. The airport does not operate a regular public shuttle service. |
| ✈️ From Skopje Airport | Take the airport shuttle to Skopje, continue to the central bus station, and then take an intercity bus to Struga. |
| 🚌 From Skopje | Intercity buses connect Skopje with Struga. Players should check the current departure schedule before travelling. |
| 🚌 From Ohrid | Travel to Struga by local bus, taxi, or private transfer. |
| 🚗 By Car | Enter Hotel Drim, Kej Boris Kidric 51, Struga, North Macedonia into the navigation system. |
Arrival Advice
Players should arrive in Struga on September 4 or early on September 5.
In-person confirmation closes at 10:30 on September 5. The Rising Stars opening ceremony begins at 11:00, followed by Round 1 at 11:30.
Players arriving through Ohrid Airport should arrange a taxi or transfer in advance because the airport does not have a regular passenger shuttle.
ℹ️ Other Information
Prize Payments
| Player Type | Payment Method |
|---|---|
| 🇲🇰 Domestic Players | Bank transfer no later than 10 days after the festival |
| 🌍 Foreign Players | Cash payment on the closing day |
Tournament Committee
The organizer will appoint a three-member Tournament Committee consisting of a chairperson and two members.
The committee will resolve appeals and disputes. Its decisions are final and binding.
Special Prize Rules
Special prizes are not cumulative.
If a player qualifies for both a general prize and a special prize, the next eligible player receives the special prize.
Changes to the Competition Format
The organizer may adjust the number of tournaments, merge categories, change the pairing system, or revise the schedule when the final number of participants requires a change.
Participation Confirmation
Every player must confirm participation in person at Hotel Drim by 10:30 on September 5, 2026.
Battle of Champions participants must also provide proof of their qualifying result from a 2026 national youth championship.
Certificates
Every participant will receive a certificate of participation.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $560
Organizer
♟️ About Youth Chess School Struga
Youth Chess School Struga, formally presented as Chess Club “Youth Chess School” Struga, is a youth-focused chess organization based in Struga, North Macedonia. The club teaches children how to play chess, helps developing players improve their competitive skills, and creates regular opportunities for young participants to gain tournament experience. Its activities promote strategic thinking, concentration, discipline, fair play, and responsible competition. The organization works with children from Struga and the wider Lake Ohrid region, while several of its events also attract players from other parts of North Macedonia and neighboring countries. Gjoko Koteski leads the school’s tournament activities and serves as its principal organizer, trainer, and contact person.
🏆 Youth Chess Training and Competitions
The club organizes classical, rapid, and youth development competitions for several age categories. Its tournament program includes spring, summer, and winter editions of the Lake Queen Youth Chess Festival, together with regional school and junior events. Participants commonly compete in separate U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18, or U20 groups, depending on the specific tournament format. Moreover, selected competitions receive FIDE rating and follow the applicable FIDE Laws of Chess. Youth Chess School Struga has also organized regional championships for children from Struga, Ohrid, Debrca, and Vevčani. These events give beginners and experienced juniors a structured environment in which to develop practical skills, represent their schools or clubs, and meet other young chess players.
🌍 Lake Queen Summer Youth Chess Festival
Youth Chess School Struga organizes the Lake Queen Summer Youth Chess Festival 2026 at Hotel Drim in Struga. The festival includes the Rising Stars program and the invitation-oriented Battle of Champions competition. Rising Stars provides several age-based sections for young players, while Battle of Champions targets leading juniors who achieved strong results in national youth championships. The club manages tournament registration, age-group placement, accommodation reservations, competition schedules, technical organization, participant communication, prizes, and cooperation with the arbitral team. Gjoko Koteski serves as tournament director and chief arbiter, while Boris Lusheski serves as deputy chief arbiter. Through the Lake Queen series, the organization promotes Struga and the Lake Ohrid region as an international destination for youth chess, education, sporting friendship, and competitive development.
Hotels Near the Venue
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