Last summer, the Romanian chess team for the blind, part of the Association of the Blind from Romania, participated in the Chess Olympiad organized by IBCA in Serbia, where it ranked among the best 16 teams in the world. This result also qualified for the World Team Championship in 2026. The competition, which started on April 17, is currently being held in Petrovac, Montenegro, until April 28, and the Romanian team is once again competing on the international stage.
The World Blind Chess Championship brings together some of the strongest teams globally and is part of the competition calendar of the International Braille Chess Association (IBCA), the organization that coordinates international competitions dedicated to blind and visually impaired chess players.
The competition includes teams from over 20 countries and takes place in the Swiss system, during 9 rounds, with classic game time (90 minutes + 30 seconds/move), being an official competition with ELO rating calculation.
The result obtained in Serbia marks an important moment for the Romanian team, confirming the constant progress on the international stage and ensuring qualification to one of the most competitive competitions in the discipline.
In chess for the blind, athletes play on special boards with tactile pieces, each move being communicated verbally. The format places a strong emphasis on memory, concentration and strategic thinking, testing the same essential skills found at the highest level of the game.
The Romanian delegation to the 2026 World Championship consists of seven members, athletes and staff, who represent the country in one of the most demanding international blind chess competitions. Romania participates in this edition from the 10th position (average ELO: 1942), with a team formed by FM (FIDE Master) Mihail-Dacian Pribeanu at table 1 (2137), world 5th place in 2025, together with Gheorghe Bratu (table 2, 1904), Dănuț Mocanu (table 3, 1876), Dumitru Vlad (table 4, 1849) and Vasile Carapit (table 5, 1843).
Betano supported the Romanian team’s participation in the IBCA Chess Olympiad in Serbia, contributing to the performance that secured qualification to the World Championship. The company continues this approach and supports the team’s participation in the 2026 edition of the competition, through the support given to the Association of the Blind in Romania.
For Betano, supporting such initiatives reflects a simple belief: that what seems impossible can become possible when performance, determination and the right support come together.
For Romanian athletes, participation in the World Championship means more than a competition. It is an opportunity to demonstrate that through discipline, focus and determination, limits can be overcome and progress continues, move by move.
Article supported by Betano
