Grandmaster Nigel Short Takes On Young Chess Players and Famous Guests on Split’s Riva

With the competitions of the International Finals completed, the spotlight at Europe’s largest amateur sporting event for children and young people turned to the All-Star Day of the Plazma Youth Sports Games. True to tradition, the day opened with a simultaneous chess exhibition on Split’s Riva, led by grandmaster Nigel Short. Sitting at the boards alongside the children were Tonči Glavina, Minister of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Croatia; Johannes Hahn, President of the General Council of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) and former European Commissioner; celebrated sporting figures Ettore Messina, Stipe Pletikosa, Ana Ivanović, Nikola Vujčić and Predrag Danilović; Coca-Cola representatives Zoran Bogdanović, Naya Kalogeraki and Luisa Ortega; Dragan Stajković, General Manager of Bambi a.d.; Adrian Ježina, President of the Management Board of Telemach Croatia; Zoran Blagojević, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wiener Städtische osiguranje a.d.o. Beograd VIG; Borko Ristovski, former handball player and North Macedonia's Minister of Sport; and many others. A tradition since 2023 Since 2023, the Plazma Youth Sports Games have organized a simultaneous chess exhibition in which the season's best young chess players sit at the boards together with the Games' ambassadors, friends and partner representatives. Each year, they all take on one of the world's leading chess grandmasters – a unique opportunity that inspires children to get involved in sport. In 2023 and 2024, the simul was held on Split's Riva, while in 2025 it took place in Sarajevo as part of the celebration marking 15 years of the Games in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This year, the tradition continued as part of the International Finals and the celebration of the Games' 30th anniversary. The Games' long-standing partner in chess competitions is FIDE, the International Chess Federation. Last year, the Plazma Youth Sports Games received the FIDE Outstanding Contribution Award 2025. FIDE presents this award to individuals and organizations that have achieved significant social impact through chess, in line with its 2025 theme, the Year of Social Chess. This year’s simul was broadcast live on television channels across Europe and around the world.