GREECE – The six-year-old Greek chess star Sophia Kaliskami was officially crowned first place winner in the Under-7’s category at the European School Chess Championship for 2026.
Held in Trogir, Croatia, from April 27 to May 5, Sophia competed in a mixed division competition against both boys and girls, where she impressively beat them with a score of 8.5 points across nine different matches.
As an undefeated ‘chess princess’ as she’s been titled, this achievement led to her to be named the Absolute European School Chess Champion for 2026, demonstrating her success, skills, and maturity for someone so young.
Speaking to The National Herald, Sophia expressed what this title and recognition mean to her: “Every tournament gives me the same happiness because I simply love playing chess and trying my best.”
“This tournament felt special because it was outside Greece, and people spoke different languages. I was very happy and proud to wear the Greek flag and bring the trophy home.”
Born to a Greek father and a Russian mother, in Greece, Sophia and her family currently live on the beautiful island of Poros.
Sophia Kaliskami standing next to the European School Championship 2026 sign. (Photo: Courtesy of Natalia Misko)
Her mother, Natalia Misko, shared how her young daughter is recognized for her many accolades and participation in national and international tournaments. She competed in her first
World School Chess Championship at five years old – she apparently began playing chess when she was just two years old!
Asked how this love developed so early on, her mother explained: “She noticed my chessboard and became very curious about it. We began playing together every day, and she quickly fell in love with the game – much more than with dolls or toys,” Misko told TNH.
“To make learning fun, every chess piece had its own ‘house’, which is how we learned the starting positions. Our games became a world of imagination and adventure on 64 squares.”
She then noted how when Sophia was three-and-a-half years old, she was officially recognized as the youngest student ever enrolled at the international online chess school – ‘WeTeach’, where she continues to train today and is coached by Evgeny Polonovsky, who is also one of her closest chess friends.
Then shortly after she turned five, she competed in her very first tournament, the Castle Chess Tournament, which took place in Nafplio.
“She won the Girls U7 category and proudly brought home her first trophy,” Sophia’s mother shared. That experience sparked a deep love for tournament chess.”
“She immediately connected with the wonderful atmosphere of the event, as well as with coach Pantelis Lykouriotis, and soon joined the Nafplio Chess Academy. Since the age of 5, she has been training there under his guidance.”
Sophia Kaliskami participated in the European School Chess Championship 2026. (Photo: Sophia Kaliskami Chess Journey, Facebook)
This year, her coaching team expanded with the addition of Grandmaster Spyridon Kapnisis, with whom Sophia works very well with, according to her mother, and their training sessions have become “their own special world of learning, creativity, and enjoyment through chess.”
From being interested in playing chess with her mother as a hobby, to perfecting her skills and competing in international tournaments, Sophia developed a deep love for chess. Her mother shared how she felt to see her daughter become so talented and successful in the sport.
“As her mother, I feel incredibly proud – not only of Sophia’s achievements, but of the person she is becoming through chess,” Misko expressed.
“Chess has taught her discipline, patience, responsibility, resilience, and respect. Watching her sit across from opponents from different countries, overcome challenges, celebrate victories with humility, and learn from defeats has been an extraordinary journey.”
“The greatest joy is seeing how happy she is. Every tournament brings new opportunities for growth, friendship, and adventure. As a family, we are always by her side, supporting her and admiring her determination, courage, and love for the game.”
Sophia Kaliskami is a 6-year-old chess champion. (Photo: Sophia Kaliskami Chess Journey, Facebook)
Misko added: “Her little 4-year-old brother is one of her most loyal fans. He proudly cheers for Sophia at tournaments and never forgets to give her a good-luck hug before she goes to play. Seeing the bond between them makes every achievement even more meaningful.”
Sophia’s mother noted how in just a year-and-a-half of competitive chess, her daughter has played 45 over-the-board tournaments, completed 305 official tournament games, won 21 trophies and 41 medals, competed in most major international open tournaments held in Greece, played more than 2,000 online games, and solved countless chess puzzles
“Her chess journey has already taken her across Greece and abroad to compete in Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Cyprus, allowing her to meet young players from all over the world and build friendships through chess,” Misko said.
Sophia Kaliskami and her mother, Natalia Misko. (Photo: Courtesy of Natalia Misko)
Sophia’s parents also noted what their goals are for their daughter.
“As parents, our goal is simple: we want Sophia to continue doing what she truly loves,” Miskos said.
“We want her to keep the spark and passion in her heart. We follow her lead and support her dreams. Chess is something she genuinely enjoys, and we want that joy to remain at the center of her journey.”
“Sophia often says that she has found her ‘superpower’ in chess. We believe in her, and we will continue supporting her every step of the way.”
As for Sophia’s goals, Misko shared how they are “less about titles and more about the next adventure. She is always excited about upcoming tournaments, meeting friends from different countries, playing strong games, and improving her chess.”
