Zidan Sameer Kazi
Zidan’s chess dream continues – help me represent the Netherlands at the European Championship

My story 

Hi, my name is Zidan and I am 10 years old.

A few years ago, I learned how to play chess. At first, it was just for fun, but I quickly started to really enjoy it.

Now I play chess almost every day. I like studying games, learning new ideas, and trying to improve. Sometimes I lose, but I always try to understand what I can do better next time.

Chess has become something I really love doing.

♟️ My journey so far

Over time, I have improved a lot and started playing in tournaments.

Today, I am ranked:

• 🇳🇱 -    #1 in the Netherlands (Age 10 – FIDE classical)
• 🇪🇺    -  #15 in Europe (Age 10 – FIDE classical)
• 🌍 -  #31 in the world (Age 10 – FIDE classical)

Some of my achievements:

• 🏆 Dutch National Champion (U10 – 2026)
• 🏆 Dutch National Champion (U8 – 2024)
• 🥇 Hague Youth Champion (PJK 2026) in U10, U12 and U14 categories
• ⭐ I was given KNSB “Promise” (Talent) status in 2026
• 📈 I reached a peak KNSB classical rating of 2042 in May'2026

I am really happy with what I have achieved so far, but I also want to keep improving.

🌍 A special opportunity

I have now been invited to represent the Netherlands at the  European Youth Chess Championship in Greece (2–13 November 2026) .

This is very special for me because:

• I can play against strong players from many countries
• I can represent the Netherlands
• I can learn a lot and become a better player

This feels like a big step for me.

💰 The reality

To participate in this tournament, there are several costs such as:

• Travel and accommodation
• An accompanying parent (which is required at my age)
• Coaching and preparation
• Other related expenses

The chess federation is paying part of the cost, however we are still short €3,000 for participating in the European Championship.

My family will support me and contribute as well, but we are looking for help to bridge the remaining amount.

My goal is not only to participate, but also to prepare well and do my best in the tournament.

 🙏 How you can help

If you support me, you would help me:

• Play in the European Championship
• Prepare better for the tournament
• Continuous learning and improving

Every contribution, big or small, helps me a lot.

🌟 Why this matters to me

Chess is something I really enjoy and want to keep getting better at.

This opportunity means:

• Learning from stronger players
• Gaining experience
• Taking an important step in my journey

My dream is to one day become the youngest Dutch Grandmaster .

❤️ Thank you

Thank you for reading my story and for your support.

I will share updates about how I do in the tournament.

Thank you for helping me represent the Netherlands!