Ukrainian chess player Myron Netrebka won the gold medal at the World Youth Chess Championship Under-9. The nine-year-old representative of Dnipro finished the tournament in Roquetas de Mar, Spain, with a score of 9.5 points out of a possible 11 and took first place outright.
Over the course of 11 rounds, Myron secured nine victories, drew one game, and suffered only one defeat. The Ukrainian finished half a point ahead of his closest pursuer, Saifuddin Erkinboev from Uzbekistan. The bronze medal went to Wiktor Stankowski from Poland with a score of 8.5 points.
A total of 82 players competed in the Open U9 category, while the overall U7–U17 World Championship brought together 721 participants from 82 countries. The tournament was conducted using the Swiss system across 11 rounds. For the first time at an official youth world championship, all age categories played under a "rapid classical" time control — 45 minutes for the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move.
This is not the first major international success for Myron Netrebka. In 2025, he became the World U8 Blitz Champion, and now he has claimed world gold in classical chess as well. The young athlete is coached by International Grandmaster Hennadii Gutman.
Netrebka's gold was Ukraine's only medal at this year's U7–U17 World Championship. Kazakhstan achieved the best result in the medal standings, with its representatives winning seven gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.
We congratulate Myron Netrebka on his World Champion title and wish him new victories and success in conquering the highest chess peaks!
