About Academia de Șah.
We are a young, ambitious team dedicated to creating a better, healthier environment for all children in our community, with the goal of fostering their harmonious development through chess.
Who we are
Chess is the oldest and most enduring of board games — art, science and sport. It is universal, with no barriers of age, gender, race, physical disability or language. With a history of over 1,300 years, chess is experiencing unprecedented growth today, with millions of games played online daily around the world.
Our mission is the education of children, complementing the work of family and school. Our activities are open to all children, regardless of financial means, disabilities or background.
Our mission
Inclusion without barriers
All children are welcome, regardless of financial means, disability, religion or background.
Complementary education
We work alongside family and school, not separately. Chess is a tool, not an end in itself.
Sport and nature
Camps, outdoor activities and connection with movement are part of the annual programme.
Civic spirit
Long-term: less school violence, better exam results and the development of a European civic spirit.
Academy timeline
National Championship Olimp 2026 — gold for Larion I., 8 athletes in national squads
At the National Chess Championship for Children and Juniors — Olimp 2026, Larion I. wins the national title; Dutcovici S. and Radu R.A. take silver, while Cnejev V., Pârvu R., Semenova V., Oltean M. and Pandelescu M.C. take bronze. 8 Academia de Șah athletes qualify for the national squads.
National Rapid & Blitz Amara — 11 medals, 5 national titles
At the National Rapid and Blitz Championship for Children and Juniors — Amara 2025, Cnejev V. becomes double champion (rapid + blitz), and Larion I. (rapid), Semenova V. (blitz) and Lucaci A.M. (blitz) take three more titles. Dutcovici S. — double runner-up (rapid + blitz).
National Junior Team Championship — 14 teams on the podium
At the 2025 National Team Championships for Children and Juniors, CS Oxygen Bucharest finishes with 14 teams on the podium (3 national titles, 8 runner-up, 3 bronze) plus 14 individual board medals. All medals were won by athletes developed within Academia de Șah.
Mamaia — European Schools Champion Larion I., runner-up Dutcovici S.
At the European Schools Chess Championship in Mamaia 2025, Larion I. wins the European Schools title and Dutcovici S. becomes European Schools runner-up. Petroff V., Calotescu D.A. and Radu R.A. finish in the European top six — the strongest individual European result in Academia de Șah history.
National Olimp 2025 — #1 club in Romania
At the 2025 National Chess Championships for Children and Juniors — Olimp 2025, Academia de Șah wins 3 titles and 2 silver medals, ranking #1 in Romania. Constantin-Ciuntu A.S. — double champion girls U10 (classical + solving) with a perfect score; Semenova V. — champion girls U14; plus silver for Pârvu R. and Bălan A.
Opening of the Cotroceni Centre — Sector 5 & 6
In May 2025, Academia de Șah opened the Cotroceni training centre, at Str. Sergent Nuțu Ion 25, at the intersection between Sectors 5 and 6 — the academy’s fourth physical centre.
National Schools Polihroniade — 5 podiums, 3 titles
At the 2025 Elisabeta Polihroniade National Schools Tournament, Academia de Șah reaches the podium five times: Podoleanu D., Dutcovici S. and Anghenie T. — national schools champions (all qualified for the World Schools Championship in Serbia), Rotescu V. — runner-up, and Pârvu R. and Dutcovici Sebastian — third place.
World Championships Italy — 4 players in the world top
At the 2024 World Cadets Championship in Italy, four Academia de Șah athletes finish in the world top: Larion I. — U-cadets top 20 (best Romanian score), Constantin-Ciuntu A.S. — 8th in the world at solving (first Romanian woman on the podium in this discipline) + top 20 classical, Dutcovici S. — world top 30 classical + 14th at solving, Petroff V. — top U12.
National Team Championship Mamaia — 17 podiums
At the National Team Championship for Children and Juniors held in Mamaia, CS Oxygen Bucharest reaches the podium 17 times: 9 national team titles, 6 runner-up finishes and 2 bronze medals. The girls under-10 team becomes triple national champion (classical + rapid + blitz).
Opening of the Piața Domenii Centre — Sector 1
On 9 September 2024 Academia de Șah opened its Sector 1 — Piața Domenii training centre, with beginner, intermediate and advanced groups led by sports instructor Alecsandru Otetea and CM Dan Nuța.
Petroff V. — European Union Champion U12
At the 2024 European Union Chess Championship, U12 section, held in the Czech Republic, Petroff V. is declared European Union Champion after 9 rounds — 6 wins and 3 draws. A major individual European title for Academia de Șah.
23 medals at Eforie Nord Nationals — #1 club in Romania
At the National Children & Juniors Championship in Eforie Nord, CS Oxygen Bucharest students win 23 medals — the best result in Academia de Șah history and #1 club ranking in Romania. Cnejev V. — triple champion (classical + rapid + solving), Larion I. — double champion (classical + blitz), Bădescu M.A. — double champion (rapid + blitz), Bădescu E. — 4 medals (blitz champion), Semenova V. — triple medallist.
Cnejev V. — second IM norm; Petroff V. — National Amateur Champion
At the Romanian National OPEN Championship, Cnejev V. ranks 5th overall and earns his second International Master norm at just 16 years old. Petroff V. becomes National Amateur Champion, while Tănasie C. takes bronze in the same event.
National Team Championship Sebeș — 11 podiums, top 3 nationally
At the 2023 National Team Championship for Children and Juniors in Sebeș, CS Oxygen earns 11 team podium finishes plus 15 individual board medals, placing the club in the national top 3. 6 gold teams (boys U10 classical+rapid, girls U12 classical+rapid+blitz, girls U8 blitz) and 5 silver teams.
Opening of the Ozana Centre — Sector 3
In February 2023 Academia de Șah classes begin in Sector 3, inside School no. 82 (Ozana neighbourhood); in September 2023 the centre moves to its own premises at Str. Lemnișorului 21–27, ground floor, with groups for beginners, intermediates and advanced children.
Cnejev V. — first International Master norm at 15
At the IM-norm tournament Pro Logos Galați (7–15 July 2023), Cnejev V. finishes first with 7/9, no losses and a 2453 ELO performance — earning his first International Master norm at just 15 years old, a major individual milestone for Academia de Șah.
12 medals at the Nationals — 3rd club FRSAH
At the 2023 National Children & Juniors Championship (classical chess and solving), Academia de Șah students win 12 medals, placing the club 3rd in the FRSAH club rankings.
Bădescu E. — Balkan Blitz Champion U8
At the Children & Juniors Balkan Chess Championship in Montenegro, Bădescu E. (at just 6 years old) wins the Balkan Blitz title for girls U8, while Bădescu M.A. takes bronze in boys U8 blitz.
Cnejev V. — 8th at the World U14 Championship (Antalya)
At the World Chess Championship for Children and Juniors — U14 section, Cnejev V. places 8th with 7.5/11 and a 95-point ELO gain — 6 wins including against the highest-rated Dutch player in the tournament.
Cnejev V. — first individual medals at National U14 (Mamaia)
At the 2021 National Children & Juniors Championship in Mamaia, U14 section, Cnejev V. wins gold at solving and bronze at classical chess — Academia de Șah’s first individual medals at the Nationals after 2019. He also wins blitz seniors FISCA 2021 (9 wins from 9, at just 13 years old, against adults).
"Ștefan cel Mare" Centre — Str. Educației 32B
In September 2021 Academia de Șah moves to the new main training centre "Ștefan cel Mare" at Str. Educației 32B (Sector 2), coordinated by Tudor Ristea and the academy team. The relocation consolidates the headquarters after nearly 7 years at Luncșoara 14.
Online pivot — chess classes during the pandemic
In April 2020, during the pandemic, Academia de Șah moves all classes online — a decisive organisational pivot that allows activity to continue and the student base to expand beyond the capital. In June 2020, the girls U10 team (Radu R.A., Ilie D.E., Chirița A.A.) takes silver at the National Online Team Championship of Romania — the first national results achieved entirely online.
Four centres cover Bucharest
Academia de Șah simultaneously operates four training centres: Obor (Sector 2), Pia Brătianu (Sector 1), Hamburg (Sector 3) and Grigore Moisil (Sector 6).
8 medals at the Nationals — first individual titles
At the 2019 National Children & Juniors Championship, Academia de Șah wins 8 medals. Cnejev V. becomes national classical champion boys U12, and the U8 girls team wins the national team title — the academy’s first national champion titles.
Opening of the Grigore Moisil Centre of Excellence — Sector 6
On 17 September 2018 Academia de Șah’s Centre of Excellence opens inside Colegiul Național Grigore Moisil, B-dul Timișoara 33, Sector 6 — coach: International Master Lucian Miron.
Cnejev V. — European Solving Champion (Oradea)
At the FIDE European Chess Championship, Solving section, in Oradea (31 July – 4 August 2018), Cnejev V. wins gold — Academia de Șah’s first individual European title.
Sfinții Voievozi Centre — Sector 1
In February 2017 Academia de Șah opened a new training centre in Sector 1, inside School no. 1 "Sfinții Voievozi" (Str. Atelierului 25, near Hotel Ibis Gara de Nord), coach: Master Iuliana Olarașu.
Piața Victoriei Centre — second physical centre
On 7 November 2016, Academia de Șah’s second physical centre opens in the Piața Victoriei area — Str. Dr. Sergiu Dimitrie 5, Sector 1, Centrul Medical Sana, 6th floor.
First Nationals appearance — Cnejev V. in the National Squad
At the 2016 National Chess Championship in Căciulata, two Academia de Șah children take part in a national competition for the first time. Cnejev V. is selected into the Romanian National Squad based on his results — Academia de Șah’s first representative at national team level.
Cupa Academiei de Șah — Edition I
In May 2015 the first edition of Cupa Academiei de Șah is held — the first tournament organised under the academy’s own brand. The same year, classes open in Sector 3 at Academia Sinergia (Str. Mihai Bravu 247).
Founding of Academia de Șah and opening of the first physical centre
Academia de Șah is founded as a project of A.C.S. Oxygen — an initiative by a team of competitively active coaches to create a serious and inclusive environment for children discovering chess. On 13 October 2014, classes begin at the first permanent physical centre — Str. Luncșoara 14, Obor (Sector 2), coach: International Master Cătălin Cărmăciu. That same month, the first partnerships are signed with "Sf. Silvestru" School (Sector 2) and School 115 (Sector 5).
Academia de Șah is the A.C.S. Oxygen project.
A.C.S. Oxygen is a sports club affiliated with the Romanian Chess Federation (FRSAH), founded in 2014 by a team of competition-active coaches with the desire to create a serious and inclusive environment for children discovering chess.
Academia de Șah is the club's educational brand — the courses programme for children and juniors through which Oxygen operates in the community. On the competition circuit, our athletes compete under the A.C.S. Oxygen name, with the most medallists at the National Junior Championships, both individual and team.