10 Hours a Day: How Aleksandar Indjic Became European Chess Champion

This blog is based on an exclusive interview with Serbian Grandmaster Aleksandar Indjic (2647), who recently claimed the European chess championship title. From his mindset shift during the tournament to his reflections on chess in Serbia and future aspirations, Aleksandar offered us a glimpse into the life of a champion. We’re proud to share the inspiring journey of Aleksandar Indjic, Serbia’s second-highest rated chess player and a valued Chessify user.

“We always say ‘Ah I’ll do it next time, next year, later,’ but at some point during the event I thought: ‘OK, but why not this time?’” - Aleksandar Indjic, the newly-crowned European chess champion recalled his mindset shift in mid-tournament.

Starting the tournament as the 33rd seed, Serbia’s No.2 Aleksandar Indjic aimed for a top-20 finish to secure a World Cup qualification spot. He wasn’t confident in his form, having had two shaky months prior — not necessarily in results, but in the quality of his play. However, the European Championship began well, and his victory against top seed GM Vladimir Fedoseev — a player Aleksandar considered one of his most uncomfortable opponents — proved to be a turning point. With renewed confidence, the Serbian GM decided this year would be different. 

“All of a sudden, this new idea appeared,” Aleksandar recalled during the interview with Chessify. “I am leading, I’ve just beaten the top seed — Fedoseev, who had always been an uncomfortable opponent for me. What other signs do I need? I thought, OK, this is the one!”

Photo by European Chess Union

With the win against Fedoseev, Aleksandar took the sole lead and held onto it till the very end. But the task wasn’t easy. The competition trailed him closely, half a point behind, meaning Aleksandar couldn’t afford to rely on draws — he had to invest in every time and fight for every win. Yet the real battle, as the European champion shared with Chessify, happened off the board. Aleksandar felt an increasing correlation between preparation and performance. The better prepared he was, the better he played, and this realization drove him to dedicate close to 10 hours a day to chess.

“My day was really disciplined. Around 9 p.m., we’d get the pairings, and I’d let Miloš [GM Miloš Perunovic, Aleksandar’s second] know. We’d take about an hour to analyze the opponent’s style and come up with ideas. Then we’d divide the work—‘You check these lines, I’ll check the others.’ In the morning, he’d send me what he’d prepared, and I’d start repeating and working. In between, I’d eat, take a walk, and relax a little. But overall, I spent at least 10 hours a day on everything chess-related.”

What made the process even tougher was Aleksandar’s difficulty in memorizing lines, which forced him to squeeze every second of pre-game time into repetitions. Arriving late for rounds became a small sacrifice he was ready to make to ensure he’d covered everything thoroughly. Becoming a champion comes with a price, and Aleksandar knew it well. “I started looking at it like, you know, in nature there is no equality. This is the price I have to pay, and for this event I'm ready to pay it,” - he noted.

After 11 grueling games and numerous hours of preparation, GM Aleksandar Indjic emerged victorious as the undefeated European chess champion with 9 points: 7 wins and 4 draws. For Aleksandar, the European title is not just a trophy but a career milestone:

“Career-wise, I always wanted to win the European Championship, because I consider it to be a very strong event. And I always wanted it to be part of my chess CV.”

Now Aleksandar’s chess CV is indeed impressive with two European gold medals. Last year, the Serbian national team claimed gold at the European Team Championship, and this year Aleksandar brought home individual gold. At the airport, family, friends, and the president of the Serbian Chess Federation greeted him alongside local media, underscoring the significance of his achievement. The following four days, Aleksandar spent on invitations to TV shows and interviews.

Photo by European Chess Union

The popularity of chess in Serbia may have waned from its heyday, but Aleksandar remains hopeful. He fondly remembers growing up in a small municipality between Belgrade and Novi Sad, where weekly blitz tournaments were a norm. Today, chess doesn’t have the same buzz, but Aleksandar’s success has reignited interest.

“It’s getting better now,” Aleksandar says. “People are starting to recognize me on the street. For example, I was walking by a marathon, and some random guy came up to congratulate me. I hope both the team’s success and my own results will help build on this popularity.”

Fittingly, the European Championship ended just as the World Chess Championship began in Singapore. Aleksandar happened to be there too as he competed in the Singapore International Open, where he finished fourth despite a difficult start. During his stay, he managed to visit the WCC venue, Resorts World Sentosa, twice and was pleased by the event organization.

“I was able to visit it twice, and actually it was very inspiring. I enjoyed it quite a lot, because not only was there a match, but also there was this fan zone where you could chat, solve some puzzles, talk, and socialize a little bit. It was quite cool.”

With the year drawing to a close, Aleksandar now turns his focus to his final event of the season: the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York City, scheduled for December 26–31.

“Last year, I finished ninth in the Blitz, and I hope to improve if the chance comes up. I also want to do better in Rapid, though I find it tricky — maybe because I don’t like it much. I prefer classical or Blitz. Rapid confuses me completely: I treat it like a serious game, but there are too many, and I just get angry.”

After New York, the champion plans to take a well-earned break to recharge. Following a series of exhausting events, Aleksandar recognizes the importance of physical training and stamina in maintaining top-level performance. Alongside enjoying hobbies and holiday celebrations, the 29-year-old Grandmaster plans to explore fresh chess ideas and prepare for his next career milestones: breaking into the top 50 rankings and surpassing the 2700 Elo mark.

For Aleksandar Indjic, the European Championship is but a stepping stone. Serbia’s chess star is only getting started.