Around 200 young chess players from all over Europe have come here to us in Thuringia to measure themselves at the “royal game”, as the game of chess is also known. This is the first time that the European Youth Team Championship takes place in Germany. I am especially delighted that it was possible to bring this German premiere to our Thuringian State Sport School in Bad Blankenburg. I am certain that Bad Blankenburg and the Thuringian State Sport School will be excellent hosts, and that they will do everything to ensure that the chess talent of around twenty European countries will feel welcome and at home.