The regional chess calendar for 2026 reached a significant milestone this past February with the conclusion of the Obb. Jugend-EM 2025/26. Hosted at the Schullandheim Wartaweil in Herrsching am Ammersee, the tournament served as the premier stage for young talent across Upper Bavaria to compete for regional titles and qualification spots. Among the various age categories, the U08 division saw a clear victor emerge in Anish Pujar, representing SK Freising.

Tournament Structure and Conditions

The championship for the U08 and U10 age groups took place over three days, from Thursday, February 19th, to Saturday, February 21st, 2026. Organized by the Schachbezirk Oberbayern, the event utilized an 8-round Swiss System to determine the final standings.

The playing conditions were rigorous for the young participants:

• Time Control: Each player was allocated 55 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move.

• Schedule: The tournament required players to complete multiple rounds per day, with the final two rounds and the award ceremony held on Saturday.

• Venue: The Schullandheim Wartaweil provided a dedicated environment for the players, including on-site accommodation and meals.

Results and Performance

Anish Pujar entered the competition as the second-seeded player with an Elo rating of 1050. Competing in the category for children born in 2018 and younger, Anish demonstrated a consistent level of play throughout the eight rounds.

His statistical performance at the tournament was as follows:

• Final Score: He finished with 7 points out of a possible 8.

• Final Rank: This score secured him the 1st Place position in the U08 standings.

• Tie-Breakers: He maintained a Buchholz score of 33 and a Sonneborn-Berger score of 32.

• Win Streak: After a loss in the third round, Anish won five consecutive games to secure the title.

By the end of the final round on Saturday afternoon, Anish stood at the top of the table. His victory was confirmed by the tournament’s chief arbiter, Maria Stadler.

Path to the State Championship

The primary objective for many participants at Wartaweil was to earn a spot in the upcoming Bavarian Youth Championship (Bayerische Jugend-EM). As the first-place finisher in the Upper Bavarian regional qualifiers, Anish Pujar has successfully secured his qualification for the state-level tournament in the U08 category.

This win adds to his competitive record for the 2026 season, which also included a strong showing at the Offene KEM 2026 in Rohrbach earlier in January. In that earlier event, Anish was noted as the youngest participant (born 2018) while competing in the senior-level Meisterklasse II.

Conclusion

The conclusion of the U08 championship in Herrsching marks a successful chapter for the youth department of SK Freising. Anish Pujar’s performance, particularly his ability to recover from a mid-tournament loss to win his remaining five games, earned him the title of Upper Bavarian U08 Champion.

With the regional title secured, the focus now shifts toward the next stage of the qualification cycle.