2026-06-22 13:17
By winning the NB I championship title, the chess team of John von Neumann University earned promotion to the Super League, the highest division in Hungarian chess. Tamás Tancsa, a student at the GAMF Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, and Árpád Soós, president of the László Tóth Chess Club, spoke about the background of this historic achievement.
The chess team of John von Neumann University concluded the 2025/2026 season with outstanding results. The NB I team won the championship, thereby earning the right to compete in the Super League next season, among Hungary’s ten strongest chess teams.
One of the team’s key players is Tamás Tancsa, a second-semester computer engineering student who joined the university team last September. The young competitor has been playing chess since the age of six and has achieved significant results since childhood. He is a multiple Hungarian champion, a gold medalist at the Student Olympics, and has also earned podium finishes at European Championships.
“When I was in kindergarten, I saw an ad for a chess class. I gave it a try, liked it, and chess has been a defining part of my life ever since,” he said.
According to the student, chess isn’t just a competitive sport; it also plays an important role in everyday life.
“Chess helps me shut out the outside world and stress. When I’m playing, I focus on just one thing, and the game captures my full attention. Perhaps that’s one of the most beautiful aspects of it—every move is backed by thought, planning, and calculation,” he explained.
Alongside his university studies, he now has less time for the game, but even so, he spends two to three hours a day playing chess. Previously, however, he trained much more intensively.
“There was a time when I played chess for 8–12 hours a day, and it went on like that for years. Success requires a tremendous amount of work and perseverance,” he emphasized.
He added that his family’s support also contributed significantly to his achievements.
“My parents, my grandparents, and my friends stood by me the whole time. I owe them a great deal.”
Behind the team’s success lies close cooperation between the László Tóth Chess Association and János Neumann University. Árpád Soós, the association’s president, explained that the community, which has about 60 members, includes people of all ages and has undergone significant development in recent years.
“We first established contact with the university about three years ago. Thanks to this partnership, we’ve received support, we’re able to use the university’s facilities, and later we were also able to introduce chess instruction for students,” he said.
Interest in the course, which offers academic credit, is steadily growing. In recent semesters, an increasing number of students have chosen the course; nearly forty enrolled in the most recent semester.
In addition to the league title, the club achieved other significant successes this season. The NB II team finished in second place and also won the Bács-Kiskun and Szolnok county championships.
The upcoming season holds new challenges, as the country’s strongest teams will compete against each other in the Super League. Árpád Soós, however, looks to the future with confidence.
“Chess fosters a way of thinking that is useful in other areas of life as well. It teaches us to weigh multiple options in a given situation, plan ahead, and make responsible decisions. This mindset can be an advantage in studies, at work, and in everyday life alike,” he emphasized.
Congratulations to the team!
