The next generation of chess talent gathered this past week in beautiful Zagreb, Croatia, for an intensive training session hosted by the Kasparov Chess Foundation’s Young Stars – Europe program. This elite program, created by Garry Kasparov, is dedicated to identifying and mentoring the most promising young chess players across the continent—and this session was another powerful step in that mission.
Held at the Chess Club e4 Zagreb, the training brought together some of Europe’s most talented juniors for a series of rigorous workshops, sparring sessions, and personalized coaching under the guidance of our world-class mentors.
The training was led by Grandmaster Alexander Beliavsky, one of the most respected figures in modern chess education, with support from FIDE Trainer Željko Krnetić. Together, along with KCF President, Michael Khodarkovsky, and Garry Kasparov himselv, they provided deep insights into opening preparation, middlegame strategy, endgame technique, and tournament psychology — equipping our young stars with the tools they need to rise to the top of the international chess scene.
This session featured a handpicked group of outstanding participants, including:
- Marta Garcia Martin (Spain)
- Arda Zor (Turkey)
- Jona Lutz (Germany)
- Simon Bekavac (Croatia)
- Borys Fylymonenko (Ukraine)
- Stefan Krstić (Serbia)
- Jasmin-Deniz Knezović (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- David Kovačević (Montenegro)
- Nikolaj Sliacan (Slovakia)
- Stjepan Dujmović (Croatia)
Each student demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, with many already boasting national and international accolades. The camaraderie and shared ambition among this group of rising stars was truly inspiring to witness.
Special thanks go to Chess Club e4 Zagreb for their generous hospitality, and to the dedicated families and federations supporting these players’ journeys.
As we continue our mission to support young talent through the Kasparov Chess Foundation Global network, events like this reaffirm our belief in the power of chess to change lives — and in the extraordinary potential of these young minds to change the game itself.
To learn more about our KCF’s Young Stars program, visit How to Apply to Young Stars. To view more pictures from the training session, check out our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.