Belgian Youth Championships 2026 U18

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55 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 16 Feb 2026 to 22 Feb 2026 in Blankenberge, Belgium. 5 titled players from 3 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 2184, and top seed was Maxime Hauchamps (🇧🇪 BEL, FM, 2327).

Maxime Hauchamps (🇧🇪 BEL, FM, 2327) won with 7.5/9, ahead of Kobe Vandenhole (6.5) and Francesco Menolascina (6.5). Hauchamps shared the lead from round 5 and won solo starting round 7.

The biggest upset came in round 1: Amedee Vandelanotte (1492) beat Peter Weber (1905), a +413-point gap.

Location

🇧🇪Blankenberge, Belgium

Dates

16 Feb 2026 → 22 Feb 2026

Time control

Standard: 90 minutes with 30 second increment from move 1

System

Swiss · 9 rounds

Top seed

🇧🇪FMMaxime Hauchamps2327

Avg top 10

2,184

Participants

Titled players · 5

FM×3

CM×2

Federations · 3 represented

🇧🇪Belgium×53

🇳🇱Netherlands×1

🇩🇪Germany×1

Top 3

🥇
FMMaxime Hauchamps
🇧🇪BEL·2327
7.5pts·2386perf+15.4
🥈
FMKobe Vandenhole
🇧🇪BEL·2269
6.5pts·2292perf+19.2
🥉
CMFrancesco Menolascina
🇧🇪BEL·2211
6.5pts·2242perf+24.4

How it unfolded

Top 6 · 9 rounds

FM Maxime Hauchamps led from R7; +1.0-point edge over the runner-up.

Co-leaders

Hauchamps7.5Govoreanu6.5Menolascina6.5Vandenhole6.5Plomp6.5Van Coppenolle6— ex-leaders:Molitorled R4, #8

R7 · LEADER CHANGE20 Feb

FM Maxime Hauchamps takes the sole lead (6.0/7).

R5 · HEAD-TO-HEAD · WINNER VS 2ND

FM Maxime Hauchamps beat Matei Govoreanu (Black).

WIN STREAKS · 3 top finishers

FM Maxime Hauchamps 3 wins (R1–R3)Matei Govoreanu 3 wins (R2–R4)CM Francesco Menolascina 3 wins (R1–R3)

Key matchups · top 4

Head-to-head between the four finishers

Player	1	2	3	4
1FMMaxime Hauchamps	*	1	½	½
2Matei Govoreanu	0	*	—	—
3CMFrancesco Menolascina	½	—	*	½
4FMKobe Vandenhole	½	—	½	*

Grille américaine

#	Player	Elo	Fed	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts	Bu C1	Bu	SB	Perf	Δ
1	Hauchamps, MaximeFM	2327	BEL	+42N	+16B	+12N	=6B	+5N	=2B	+11N	+7B	=3N	7.5	48.0	51.5	42.00	2386	+15.4
2	Vandenhole, KobeFM	2269	BEL	+26B	+8N	+14B	=3N	+7B	=1N	=4B	=6N	=10B	6.5	50.0	54.5	38.25	2292	+19.2
3	Menolascina, FrancescoCM	2211	BEL	+39N	+36B	+11N	=2B	=6N	−9B	+13N	+19B	=1B	6.5	46.5	50.5	34.50	2242	+24.4
4	Plomp, Mateo	2068	BEL	+35N	+31B	−6N	+27B	=11N	+16B	=2N	+9B	=5N	6.5	44.5	48.5	33.00	2170	+54.4
5	Govoreanu, Matei	2071	BEL	=32B	+30N	+49B	+14N	−1B	+18N	=7B	+8N	=4B	6.5	44.5	47.5	31.75	2171	+50.8
6	Vantorre, Nils	2266	BEL	+28B	+18N	+4B	=1N	=3B	=7N	=8B	=2B	=11N	6.0	50.0	54.5	35.25	2228	-8.8
7	Molitor, MiloFM	2268	BEL	+25N	+20B	+10N	+9B	−2N	=6B	=5N	−1N	+17B	6.0	48.5	53.0	32.75	2237	-5.6
8	Van Coppenolle, Lander	1984	BEL	+21N	−2B	+39N	+24B	=9N	+12B	=6N	−5B	+19N	6.0	45.5	49.5	30.50	2118	+67.6
9	Raptis, FilipposCM	2183	BEL	+40B	+33N	+17B	−7N	=8B	+3N	=10B	−4N	+20B	6.0	45.0	49.0	30.50	2149	-8.4
10	Meysman, Kaito	2072	BEL	+34B	+15N	−7B	−13N	+25B	+29N	=9N	+16B	=2N	6.0	43.5	47.5	29.75	2074	+11.6
11	Vanbrussel, Kiran	1980	BEL	+41B	+54N	−3B	+49N	=4B	+17N	−1B	+18N	=6B	6.0	43.5	44.5	24.25	2130	+62.8
12	Vansilliette, Louis	2096	BEL	+23N	+22B	−1B	=15N	+30B	−8N	=17B	+27N	=13B	5.5	44.0	48.0	26.50	2016	-30.4
13	Weber, Peter	1905	GER	−47N	+21B	+38N	+10B	=17B	=15N	−3B	+25N	=12N	5.5	42.0	45.0	27.50	1952	+29.2
14	Wambecq, Ward	2073	BEL	+24N	+27B	−2N	−5B	−31N	+37B	=20N	+35N	+26B	5.5	40.0	44.0	24.50	1944	-44.8
15	Mangez, Colin	1902	BEL	+51N	−10B	+35N	=12B	=19N	=13B	−16N	+38B	+22N	5.5	40.0	43.0	24.00	1948	+22.0
16	Wyngaerden, Florian	1918	BEL	+43B	−1N	=28B	+34N	+26B	−4N	+15B	−10N	=18B	5.0	43.5	47.0	22.25	1938	+8.4
17	Claessens, Thomas	2028	BEL	+38N	+47B	−9N	+31B	=13N	−11B	=12N	+28B	−7N	5.0	41.5	44.5	21.00	1957	-24.4
18	Ahn, Anastasia	1953	BEL	+37N	−6B	=23N	+42B	+36N	−5B	+31N	−11B	=16N	5.0	40.5	44.0	20.50	1938	-6.0
19	Mareels Dutry, Jasper	2012	BEL	+29B	−49N	=25B	+28N	=15B	+30N	+27B	−3N	−8B	5.0	40.0	43.0	22.50	1895	-49.2
20	Walrant, Toan	1928	BEL	+45B	−7N	+40B	−30N	=32B	+34N	=14B	+31N	−9N	5.0	37.5	40.5	19.75	1922	-5.2
21	Georges, Simon	1624	BEL	−8B	−13N	+46B	+48N	=28B	=26N	−25B	+45N	+33B	5.0	35.0	38.0	17.50	1775	+66.4
22	Zootjes, Aaron	1906	NED	+52B	−12N	=34B	=25N	−29B	+45N	+32B	+30N	−15B	5.0	35.0	36.5	16.75	1779	-52.0
23	Seliga, Mathis	1744	BEL	−12B	+45N	=18B	−33N	+40B	=32N	−30B	+34N	+31B	5.0	34.5	37.5	19.50	1855	+48.8
24	Verspecht, Louis	1713	BEL	−14B	+46N	+33B	−8N	−49B	=43N	=45B	+36N	+30B	5.0	33.0	36.0	18.25	1850	+62.0
25	Van Brussel, Thomas	1751	BEL	−7B	+41N	=19N	=22B	−10N	+52B	+21N	−13B	=32B	4.5	40.5	42.0	17.50	1826	+23.2
26	Vagenende, Lars	1772	BEL	−2N	+37B	+50N	=36B	−16N	=21B	=38N	+29B	−14N	4.5	38.5	41.5	18.00	1792	0.0
27	Kucsicsa, Rafael	1851	BEL	+48B	−14N	+29B	−4N	+43B	+49N	−19N	−12B	=28N	4.5	38.0	41.0	16.25	1840	-3.2
28	Vanormelingen, Arne	1674	BEL	−6N	+44B	=16N	−19B	=21N	+53B	+33B	−17N	=27B	4.5	38.0	39.0	15.75	1822	+49.2
29	Herman, Mael	1671	BEL	−19N	+53B	−27N	+50B	+22N	−10B	=36B	−26N	+43B	4.5	35.5	36.5	14.50	1780	+29.6
30	Claproth, Mels	1780	BEL	+53N	−5B	+47N	+20B	−12N	−19B	+23N	−22B	−24N	4.0	40.0	41.0	14.00	1783	-4.4
31	Van Looy, Daan	1827	BEL	+50B	−4N	+54B	−17N	+14B	+33N	−18B	−20B	−23N	4.0	39.0	40.0	13.50	1794	-14.8
32	Meyns, Alexander	1739	BEL	=5N	=42B	−36N	+47B	=20N	=23B	−22N	=37B	=25N	4.0	37.5	40.5	17.25	1751	+4.4
33	Seresia, Nathan	1873	BEL	+44N	−9B	−24N	+23B	+38N	−31B	−28N	+42B	−21N	4.0	37.0	40.5	16.00	1697	-81.6
34	Taylor, Tyrese	1670	BEL	−10N	+55B	=22N	−16B	+39N	−20B	=42N	−23B	+46N	4.0	36.5	37.5	12.25	1725	+21.6
35	Wilmotte, Ward	1663	BEL	−4B	+52N	−15B	−43N	=37N	+51B	+39N	−14B	=42N	4.0	35.5	37.0	12.25	1655	-14.0
36	Huang, Kayan	1930	BEL	+46B	−3N	+32B	=26N	−18B	F	=29N	−24B	+47N	4.0	35.5	35.5	14.50	1764	-61.2
37	Wang, Yixuan	1629	BEL	−18B	−26N	+52B	=40N	=35B	−14N	+43B	=32N	=41B	4.0	34.5	36.0	13.00	1673	+9.2
38	Hanssen, Casper	1665	BEL	−17B	+48N	−13B	+53N	−33B	+46N	=26B	−15N	=40B	4.0	34.5	35.5	11.25	1692	+4.0
39	Lippens, Tristan	1711	BEL	−3B	+43N	−8B	=45N	−34B	+40N	−35B	=46N	+48B	4.0	34.0	37.0	13.50	1672	-24.0
40	Vermeulen, Hailey	1746	BEL	−9N	+51B	−20N	=37B	−23N	−39B	+53N	+52B	=38N	4.0	32.5	33.5	9.50	1531	-66.4
41	Hanssens, Daan	1546	BEL	−11N	−25B	−42N	−51B	+50N	+47B	=52N	+44B	=37N	4.0	30.5	32.0	12.25	1618	+16.0
42	Meulemeester, Joran	1696	BEL	−1B	=32N	+41B	−18N	−45B	+48N	=34B	−33N	=35B	3.5	35.5	38.5	13.00	1658	-24.8
43	Botteman, Mattice	1629	BEL	−16N	−39B	+51N	+35B	−27N	=24B	−37N	+50B	−29N	3.5	34.0	37.0	12.50	1506	-42.0
44	Danloy, Lucas	1540	BEL	−33B	−28N	−48B	+54N	−53B	+55N	=46B	−41N	+52N	3.5	22.0	23.0	5.00	1393	-48.4
45	Gil, Jean-Sebastien	1623	BEL	−20N	−23B	+55N	=39B	+42N	−22B	=24N	−21B	−50N	3.0	35.5	36.5	9.00	1630	-2.4
46	Rombout, David	1522	BEL	−36N	−24B	−21N	+55B	+47N	−38B	=44N	=39B	−34B	3.0	32.5	33.5	7.75	1514	-8.4
47	Vandelanotte, Amedee	1492	BEL	+13B	−17N	−30B	−32N	−46B	−41N	+54B	+55N	−36B	3.0	30.5	31.5	7.50	1517	-2.8
48	Callebert, Benjamin	1485	BEL	−27N	−38B	+44N	−21B	+51N	−42B	−50N	+53B	−39N	3.0	30.5	31.5	7.50	1408	-21.2
49	Abdel-Kafi, Taha	1847	BEL	+55N	+19B	−5N	−11B	+24N	−27B	F	F	F	3.0	28.0	28.0	11.00	1846	+2.8
50	Moerman, Axl	0	BEL	−31N	F	−26B	−29N	−41B	+54N	+48B	−43N	+45B	3.0	27.5	27.5	7.00	1492	0.0
51	Paul, Jonas	0	BEL	−15B	−40N	−43B	+41N	−48B	−35N	−55B	+54N	+53N	3.0	26.0	27.0	6.00	1318	0.0
52	Benoit, Thierry	0	BEL	−22N	−35B	−37N	F	+54B	−25N	=41B	−40N	−44B	1.5	30.0	30.0	3.00	1261	0.0
53	Backiel, Sandra	0	BEL	−30B	−29N	F	−38B	+44N	−28N	−40B	−48N	−51B	1.0	30.5	30.5	3.50	1342	0.0
54	D`opere, Robbe	0	BEL	F	−11B	−31N	−44B	−52N	−50B	−47N	−51B	+55B	1.0	25.0	25.0	1.00	1411	0.0
55	Botteman, Maite	1417	BEL	−49B	−34N	−45B	−46N	F	−44B	+51N	−47B	−54N	1.0	23.5	23.5	3.00	811	-64.0

Key insights

Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.

Top rating gainers

1Van Coppenolle, LanderBEL
+67.6
6.0 pts · #6
2Georges, SimonBEL
+66.4
5.0 pts · #15
3Vanbrussel, KiranBEL
+62.8
6.0 pts · #16

Top rating losers

1Seresia, NathanBEL
-81.6
4.0 pts · #25
2Vermeulen, HaileyBEL
-66.4
4.0 pts · #49
3Botteman, MaiteBEL
-64.0
1.0 pts · #55

Biggest upsets

R1+413 Elo gap
Vandelanotte, Amedee1492 beat Weber, Peter1905
R9+249 Elo gap
Georges, Simon1624 beat Seresia, Nathan1873
R5+246 Elo gap
Van Looy, Daan1827 beat Wambecq, Ward2073