During the ECU Youth Championship in the Romanian town Mamaia, in September 2017, the idea arose to conduct a national youth match against Romania in preparation for the EYTCC 2018. The two national teams sample the “practical emergency” at the Landessportschule Bad Blankenburg. National coach Dorian Rogozenco was thankfully available for the preparation of the German junior team. At the same time he evaluates the games in the evening together with the Romanian and German players. This allows a perfect preparation for the “real” championship.

After a short welcoming speech by tournament director Bernd Vökler and arbiter Daniel Wanzek, both teams started immediately. A quick victory was scored by Konstantin Urban on board 4, with the Sicilian bishop's sacrifice on b5 followed by the cavalry's intervention to take the lead. After both girls won their games and Luis Engel had played draws in the meantime, the Romanians won on the first board. Alexander Riess contributed half a point to the Germans' 4:2 victory in the first match.

The Romanian guests had ambitious plans for the rematch. It was a 2-point gap that had to be made up. However, Roven Vogel thwart their goal. He mercilessly exploited a miscalculation by his opponent. By wining he could balance his personal match record and bring the German team into the lead. After the equalizer on the third boy`s board, it was left to the girls to put the game to bed. At first Antonia held a very difficult position with a row of single moves and Annmarie set the positive conclusion in the tower final. 3. 5 to 2. 5; two individual round triumphs and a won match overall, the national coach Dorian Rogozenco was satisfied.