Šahovski savez Centralne Srbije

♟️ About Šahovski savez Centralne Srbije

Šahovski savez Centralne Srbije (ŠSCS) is the regional chess federation responsible for organized chess across Central Serbia. Founded on October 26, 1997, the federation coordinates clubs across a large part of the country and operates within the wider structure of the Šahovski savez Srbije (Chess Federation of Serbia). Its responsibilities include club and player registration, league administration, championships, youth chess, women’s chess, veteran competition, arbiter development, and cooperation with regional chess organizations. ŠSCS manages an extensive annual competition system. Its program includes the First League of Central Serbia, First Women’s League, Second and Third Leagues, regional leagues divided into East, West, North, and South zones, the Central Serbia Cup, individual rapid and blitz championships, veteran events, and the annual Youth Festival of Central Serbia. In addition, the federation organizes the Cadet League and supports tournaments run by affiliated clubs throughout its territory. IA Igor Lukić is the current President of Šahovski savez Centralne Srbije following the federation’s electoral assembly in December 2025. He is also an experienced International Arbiter and regularly serves as Tournament Director at major ŠSCS competitions. Milivoje Milivojević serves as Secretary. The federation has an especially active 2026 program, with regional leagues beginning in September and its two principal top-level competitions — the First League of Central Serbia from October 17–25 and the First Women’s League from October 23–25 — scheduled for the autumn.

📜 History and Development

Šahovski savez Centralne Srbije was established on October 26, 1997 to coordinate competitive chess across the large Central Serbia region. The federation celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022–2023, recognizing individuals and clubs that had contributed to its development. Its historical leadership includes founding President Aleksandar Batanjac and several later presidents who helped shape the organization as Serbia’s chess structure evolved. Lidija Vučković became the federation’s fifth President in January 2022 and served through the 2025 competitive season. Following the December 7, 2025 electoral assembly, leadership passed to Igor Lukić, who now heads both the federation office and its Management Board. Today, ŠSCS coordinates a large network of clubs across districts including Mačva, Šumadija, Zlatibor, Braničevo, Bor, Pomoravlje, Nišava, Pirot, Jablanica, Raška, Rasina, Kolubara, and other areas of Central Serbia.

♜ League and Team Chess

Team competition forms one of the federation’s largest responsibilities. ŠSCS administers several tiers of league chess, creating a pathway from local and regional divisions toward higher Serbian competition. The 2026 season includes Second League groups in East and West, together with Central Serbia regional leagues divided into East, West, North, and South. These competitions begin during September and continue through additional league weekends later in the autumn. The federation’s highest competition is the First League of Central Serbia. The 2026 edition will take place from October 17–25 at Hotel Atlas in Novi Pazar. Twelve clubs will compete in an 11-round team round robin, including Sloga Lipnički Šor, Krušik Valjevo, Đerdap Kladovo, INA Dizajn Inženjering Novi Pazar, ŠKGN Nais Niš, Ivanjica, Karađorđe Topola, Tutin, Čast i Slava Pirot, Metalac Gornji Milanovac, Caribrod Dimitrovgrad, and Sloga Kraljevo. Games use 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one and are submitted for FIDE standard rating. IA Igor Lukić serves as Tournament Director, with IA Novica Arsić as Chief Arbiter.

🎓 Youth Chess and Player Development

Youth development is a major part of the ŠSCS calendar. The federation organizes its annual Festival mladih, bringing together leading young players from across Central Serbia. The 28th Youth Festival of ŠSCS took place from February 14–17, 2026 at Hotel Ravni Gaj and attracted 145 participants. The four-day competition included cadet and junior categories and continued a tournament tradition stretching back almost three decades. The federation also organized the 11th Central Serbia Cadet Team Championship from April 24–26, 2026 at Sportski centar Čair in Niš. Separate competitions were provided for boys’ and girls’ teams. These events create a structured pathway from club and district chess into regional championships and subsequently into national competitions organized by the Chess Federation of Serbia.

👩 Women’s Chess and Senior Competition

Women’s chess has its own league structure within ŠSCS. The First Women’s League of Central Serbia 2026 is scheduled for October 23–25 at Hotel SUR Sax-Balkan in Dimitrovgrad. Six teams are currently listed: Šabački ŠK, Caribrod Dimitrovgrad, Miloš Poznanović Užice, Sloga Petrovac 2, Mladost Lučani, and Topličani Prokuplje. The competition uses a five-round team round robin and the same 90+30 FIDE-rated classical time control as the main First League. Igor Lukić again serves as Tournament Director, with Novica Arsić as Chief Arbiter. The annual federation calendar also includes championships for veterans, together with individual rapid and blitz competitions. Therefore, ŠSCS provides formal competitive opportunities across junior, adult, women’s, and senior categories.

🏛️ Organization and Leadership

Igor Lukić currently serves as President of Šahovski savez Centralne Srbije. He also chairs the federation’s Arbiter Commission and has extensive experience directing and arbiting regional competitions. Ilija Knežević serves as Vice President, while Milivoje Milivojević is Secretary. Saša Jevtić serves as President of the federation’s Assembly. The federation also operates specialist commissions covering competition, arbiters, youth chess, women’s chess, registration, professional chess matters, and disciplinary issues. Its administrative office is located in central Belgrade and handles club registrations, player registrations, tournament administration, official correspondence, and federation documentation.