Bled Chess Festival: Strong finish earns FM Zanas Nainys outright win

by Stefan Liebig
3/18/2026 – The international chess festival in the Slovenian resort town of Bled, staged for nearly a century, has concluded. Lithuania's Zanas Nainys (pictured, right) emerged as the clear winner of the event, which catered especially for ambitious titled players, amateurs and rising juniors. A powerful finish saw him overtake Leon Mazi - who had defeated him in round four - to claim first place. | Photos: Bled Chess Festival
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Nainys unstoppable against the dreamlike backdrop of Lake Bled

One more edition of the chess festival in Bled, a traditional tournament on the shores of Lake Bled, has come to an end. In an atmosphere that has breathed chess history for decades, players from all over the world once again gathered this year to compete in the main event with 78 participants and to take part in additional festival activities such as blitz and rapid tournaments, simultaneous exhibitions with grandmasters, and cultural programmes centred on the Bled region.

As in previous years, the focus of the international tournament was less on elite-level competition and more on providing opportunities and playing practice for young players. Amid all the competitive action, participants were able to experience the unique atmosphere of one of Europe's most historic chess venues.

What a panorama: Lake Bled (above) and the top boards with a view (below) | Photos: Bled Chess Festival

Many young players made their way to Bled | Photo: Bled Chess Festival

An exciting tournament

In round four, IM Leon Mazi of Slovenia defeated Lithuania's Zanas Nainys and moved into the lead with 3½ out of 4 points - alongside Petar Gazic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, this victory was far from enough to shake off Nainys. Although the Slovenian, born in 1959, also won his next two games and remained unbeaten up to round eight thanks to two draws, Nainys stayed close behind. The Lithuanian, exactly five decades younger, won his three games in a row in rounds five to seven and drew in the penultimate round. As a result, both players entered the final round on 6½ out of 8.

The two players, separated by only five Elo points, had already pulled half a point clear of third-placed U14 player Leonard Belyaletdinov and a full point ahead of a group of pursuers. In round nine, Mazi had white against Belyaletdinov and lost, while Nainys, playing black, had to face the Turkish player Ismail Cinar Keloglu, who is of the same age.

The playing hall | Photo: Bled Chess Festival Bled

Nainys scored a full point with black to claim outright victory.

These results produced the following final standings, with Nainys as the clear winner and Leonard Belyaletdinov - a young Slovenian untitled player (born in 2013) - in sole second place. Belyaletdinovdefeated Mazi with black in the final round.

Final standings

Rg. Snr Title Name Alter Land Elo Pts. TB
1 3
FM Nainys, Zanas U18 LTU 2286 7,5 47
2 12
Belyaletdinov, Leonard U14 SLO 2119 7 44
3 4
IM Mazi, Leon S65 SLO 2280 6,5 48,5
4 2
FM Dorrance, Adam CAN 2288 6,5 42
5 6
FM Furlan, Miha S50 SLO 2239 6,5 41,5
6 5
IM Biti, Ozren CRO 2267 6 46
7 25
Mestek, Igor S50 SLO 2013 6 40,5
8 13
WIM Vidic, Teja SLO 2106 6 40
9 11
De Graaf, Dick S50 NED 2126 6 39
10 8
Krstić, David U14 SLO 2158 5,5 47
11 39
Todashvili, Mate GEO 1930 5,5 46
12 9
Keber, Aljoša U18 SLO 2140 5,5 44
13 18
Žužek, Bor U16 SLO 2057 5,5 42
14 15
Keloglu, Ismail Cinar U18 TUR 2083 5,5 40,5
15 16
FM Božinovič, Bogdan S65 CRO 2080 5,5 40,5
16 28
Finke, Kelvin AUS 1986 5,5 40,5
17 27
Sibincic, Nikola U16 BIH 1988 5,5 38
18 38
Mihič, Adam U16 SLO 1933 5,5 38
19 22
Simončič, Silvo S65 SLO 2029 5,5 36,5
20 23
Engesser, Jonas GER 2026 5,5 36
21 1
IM Praznik, Niko SLO 2294 5 40,5
22 17
Demšar, Maks U20 SLO 2074 5 40
23 7
IM Vujakovic, Branko S65 CRO 2219 5 40
24 36
Mihič, Peter U14 SLO 1938 5 39,5
25 10
Kovačič, Peter

SLO 2138 5 39,5

...78 players

All available games

Participants can already look forward to the next edition - the dates for next year's festival have already been set: 8 to 14 March 2027 | Photo: Biel Chess Festival

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Stefan Liebig, born in 1974, is a journalist and co-owner of a marketing agency. He now lives in Barterode near Göttingen. At the age of five, strange pieces on his neighbour’s shelf aroused his curiosity. Since then, the game of chess has cast a spell over him. Flying high in the NRW youth league with his home club SV Bad Laasphe and several appearances in the second division team of Tempo Göttingen were highlights for the former youth South Westphalia champion.
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