Seven-year-old Lithuanian becomes European chess champion – twice in one tournament

Nikolas Bausys, a seven-year-old Lithuanian boy, has won two European chess titles at a single tournament held in Poland. In the rapid event, he scored 8.5 out of 9 points, winning eight games and drawing one. The following day, he clinched the blitz title with a perfect score of 18 out of 18. His father, Marius, noted that achieving such a maximum score is rare and that the family returned home elated.

Nikolas started playing chess at age four, inspired by his older brother Benas, who also plays and has become Lithuanian champion. At just five, Nikolas received an international rating from FIDE. Chess has become a family tradition: after nursery, the children play chess instead of watching cartoons. Their parents never push them – chess is a way to relax and connect.

Earlier this month, Nikolas finished sixth at the World Classical Chess Championship in Georgia. His father admitted expectations were higher but the result was still good. Nikolas is known in the chess community as "the little one who's good at it" and is already at the level of a decent adult player.

According to his father, chess develops concentration, responsibility, and decision-making under time pressure. Besides chess, Nikolas also plays football and swims. The family has three sons, all involved in chess, along with grandparents and an aunt. Marius, who works in finance, describes chess as both an exact science and an art.