Liel Levitan, who just turned 7, beat the other 13 competitors in her Girls U7 category at the 2018 championships in Krakow.
By: Abigail Klein Leichman, Israel21c and United with Israel Staff
Seven-year-old Liel Levitan was the top winner in the Girls U7 category of the European School Chess Championship 2018, held earlier this month in Krakow, Poland. 13 outstanding girls participated in the competition, which was 8 days long.
Liel has won many championships in the past, including the Israeli championship until the age of 6 for boys and girls.
More than 300 players from over 20 European federations were divided into six age categories for open competitions and girls’ competitions (U7, U9, U11, U13, U15 and U17).
The Israeli second-grader won with 6 points after playing seven matches. Her mother, Julia, filmed Liel accepting her medal while wrapped in an Israeli flag.
Two of Liel’s three older siblings, Ronit and Yaron, also were among Israel’s 23-person delegation to the event. Ronit finished third in the World School Championship in 2011, when she was seven. The Levitans, who live in Tel Hai in northern Israel, play in the Israel Chess Federation’s Greater Haifa Club.
The winners of the European Championships 2018 receive free board and lodging to participate in the World School Championship 2019 to be held in Tunisia.