ALEXANDRA KOSTENIUK WINS DOUBLE GOLD AT EUROPEAN WOMEN RAPID&BLITZ CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2019

Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS, 2521 blitz rtg, 2538 rapid rtg) triumphed at both European Women Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2019 and took double gold at the event which took place in Monaco, from 29th November-2nd December.

European Women Blitz Chess Championship 2019 was played on 30th December. Despite a loss in the last 13th round of the Championship, Kosteniuk Alexandra was the sole Winner of the event with score of 10 points.

Five players tied for the second place, each with 9.5 points: Stefanova Antoaneta (ECU, 2452), Gunina Valentina (RUS, 2366), Sebag Marie (FRA, 2467), Zhukova Natalia (UKR, 2239) and Kashlinskaya Alina (RUS, 2282). According to tiebreak criteria, Stefanova Antoaneta took silver medal and Gunina Valentina came third.

Final rankings- Blitz

European Women Rapid Chess Champion was determined by tiebreaks, since Kosteniuk Alexandra and Girya Olga (RUS, 2365) tied for the first place, each with score of 9 points. Eventually, Kosteniuk Alexandra took another gold at the event, and Girya Olga came second.

Six players tied for bronze: Stefanova Antoaneta (ECU, 2455), Batsiashvili Nino (GEO, 2401), Gunina Valentina (RUS, 2434), Kshlinskaya Alina (RUS, 2350), Cramling Pia (SWE, 2423) and Paehtz Elisabeth (GER, 2381), each scoring 8 points. Eventually, Stefanova Antoaneta came on the third place, thanks to better additional criteria.

Final rankings- Rapid

European Women Rapid&Blitz Chess Championship 2019 took place from 29th November-2nd December in Monaco, with participation of more than 100 players coming from 26 European federations.

The European Women’s Blitz Chess Championship 2019 opened with welcome speeches by the ECU Secretary General Mr. Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou, FIDE Deputy President Mr. Bachar Kouatly and the President of Monaco Chess Federation and the Chairman of ECU Women’s Commission, Mr. Jean Michel Rapaire.

ECU Vice President, Mr. Adrian Mikhalchishin made the first ceremonial move and officially opened European Women Rapid Chess Championship, while FIDE President, Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich made a first move before the start of the 6th round of Rapid Championship in the game between two chess legends: Nona Gaprindashvili and Maia Chiburdanidze.

The Closing Ceremony of the event took place yesterday evening, in Hotel Novotel, official venue of the Championship.

Photos by: Chess&Strategy