Encouraging results for four Maltese youths at the FIDE World U7-U17 Chess Championships 2026!
After eleven challenging rounds against some of the world’s strongest young players in Roquetas de Mar, Spain, our four Maltese representatives have completed the FIDE World U7-U17 Championships (formerly known as the World Schools Championships), with all four finishing higher than their starting rankings!
Here’s how they finished:
♟️ Gabriel Gauci (U17) – 4/11
59th place (up from 67th), achieving a performance rating of 1900, around 150 points above his rating, and his first results against 2000+ rated opponents.
♟️ Matthias Borda (U15) – 4½/11
64th place (up from 71st), with a performance rating of 1730 and his first results against 2000+ rated opponents, including a draw against a 2065-rated player.
♟️ John Refalo (U13) – 6/11
30th place (up from 41st), with a performance rating of 1805 in a particularly competitive age category.
♟️ Nikol Borg (U9) – 5½/11
44th place (up from 52nd), with a performance rating of 1639, around 100 points above his rating, including a win against a 1739-rated opponent.
Beyond the results, all four return home with valuable international experience and plenty to build on for future competitions. Well done!
Thank you to CM Colin Pace of Colin Pace Chess Academy for his coaching and guidance throughout the Championship, and to Dulcissima Malta and VisitMalta for their support.
Our young chess players take their stories to TVAM!
Fresh from representing Malta at the FIDE World U7–U17 Championships 2026 in Spain, Nikol Borg, Matthias Borda and Gabriel Gauci joined presenter Dorianne Mamo on the breakfast television programme TVAM on the morning of 30 October 2026. The conversation took us back to how they first got into chess, what it was like competing on the international stage, and even included a little hands-on chess lesson for Dorianne! Although fellow teammate John Refalo couldn’t join them this morning, he was very much part of Malta’s journey in Spain, and we congratulate all four boys once again on their achievements!
A big thank you to the TVAM team for giving our young players the opportunity to share their experiences and for shining a spotlight on Malta’s young chess talent. Thanks to Dulcissima Malta and VisitMalta once again for their support throughout this international experience.
