Chess Federation of Serbia

♟️ About Šahovski savez Srbije

Šahovski savez Srbije (ŠSS), or Chess Federation of Serbia, is the national governing body for chess in Serbia. Founded on September 19, 1948, the federation is headquartered in Belgrade and coordinates Serbia’s national championships, team leagues, ratings, national teams, youth development, school chess, arbiters, tournament organization, and international representation. It works with regional federations and affiliated clubs throughout the country while representing Serbian chess within FIDE. The federation runs an extensive annual competition program covering the Serbian Individual Championships, Women’s Championship, First League, Svetozar Gligorić Cup, youth championships, school competitions, senior chess, rapid and blitz events, and the international Serbia Open. In addition, ŠSS has become an experienced host of major FIDE competitions. Serbia hosted the FIDE World Cadet and Youth Rapid & Blitz Championships in Vrnjačka Banja in April 2026 and will welcome the FIDE World Senior Chess Championships there in November. Andrija Jorgić is the current President of the Chess Federation of Serbia and was elected to a new four-year mandate in March 2026. His current program places particular emphasis on youth development, chess in schools, stronger national-team support, and bringing further European and World Championships to Serbia. On August 27, 2026, the federation formally opened its new Chess Federation of Serbia Academy in Belgrade for selected young talents.

📜 History and Serbian Chess

Šahovski savez Srbije was established on September 19, 1948, a date now officially celebrated as the federation’s anniversary. Serbia inherited a particularly strong chess tradition developed through generations of Yugoslav and Serbian players, clubs, organizers, and international tournaments. Among the most influential figures connected with Serbian chess is GM Svetozar Gligorić, one of the strongest players outside the Soviet Union during his era. FIDE later established the Svetozar Gligorić Fair Play Trophy in his honor, while the Serbian federation continues to organize a national cup bearing his name. Serbia’s modern national team achieved a historic result by winning the European Team Chess Championship in 2023. The federation continues to manage the country’s Open and Women’s national teams for European Championships, Chess Olympiads, and other international team competitions.

🏆 National Championships and Leagues

The federation’s 2026 national calendar includes individual championships, semifinals, youth events, school championships, the Svetozar Gligorić Cup, senior competition, and the Serbian First League for Open and Women’s teams. The 20th Serbian Individual Chess Championship took place in Senta from June 13–21, 2026. GM Bojan Maksimović won his first national title with 6.5/9, finishing ahead of IM Stefan Tadić and GM Mihail Brjakin. Team chess also remains central to ŠSS activity. The 2026 Serbian First League for Open and Women’s teams is scheduled for October 4–14 in Vrnjačka Banja. The federation also decided in 2026 to introduce a dedicated Serbian Junior League, strengthening the pathway from youth competition into senior club chess.

🌍 Serbia Open and International Events

The Serbia Open is the federation’s flagship international summer festival. The 6th Serbia Open took place from July 13–22, 2026 at the Metropol Palace Hotel in Belgrade under the patronage of Serbia’s Ministry of Sports. Approximately 550 players from 38 national federations participated, ranging from leading Grandmasters to ambitious juniors and amateur competitors. The scale of the festival has made it an important annual meeting point within the European summer chess calendar. Serbia also hosted the FIDE World Cadet and Youth Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships in Vrnjačka Banja from April 14–21, 2026. Around 450 players from 40 federations competed across the U8 to U18 Open and Girls categories. The federation’s next major global event is the FIDE World Senior Chess Championships, scheduled for November 2–15, 2026, again in Vrnjačka Banja. The championships will feature Open and Women’s 50+ and 65+ sections, 11-round classical tournaments, rapid and blitz side events, and a total prize fund of €50,000.

🎓 Youth Chess and Education

Youth development has become one of the federation’s principal strategic priorities. In September 2025, ŠSS signed a cooperation protocol with Serbia’s Ministry of Education aimed at expanding chess in schools and preschool institutions. The federation also organizes national individual and team championships for primary and secondary schools. In May 2026, the national school championships were held in Futog near Novi Sad. A major new step came on August 27, 2026, when the federation opened the Chess Federation of Serbia Academy in Belgrade. The initial group consists of 18 selected players aged 8–18, who will receive structured training from leading Serbian coaches. GM Branko Damljanović was appointed Director of the Academy in July 2026. The project is designed to provide systematic long-term support for Serbia’s strongest young prospects and prepare them for European and World youth competition.

🏛️ Organization and Leadership

Andrija Jorgić was re-elected President of Šahovski savez Srbije in March 2026 with unanimous support from the delegates present at the federation’s electoral assembly. Goran Vlajković serves as Vice President, while Bojana Bejatović currently serves as Acting General Secretary. The federation also maintains dedicated administrative functions for ratings, communications, national teams, tournaments, arbiters, youth development, and other areas of organized chess. Its central office on Nušićeva Street in Belgrade handles general federation enquiries and remains the principal administrative contact point.