The European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2025 commenced today in Pristina, Kosovo, with the Rapid tournament.
The Opening ceremony of the event took place at the Emerald Hotel, with the attendance of the ECU President Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Kosovo Mr. Hajrullah Çeku, Deputy Minister of Sports of North Macedonia Ms. Safije Sadiku Shahini, ECU CEO and President of Albanian Chess Federation Mr. Erald Dervishi, ECU Vice President Mr. Alojzije Jankovic, President of Kosovo Chess Federation Mr. Armend Budima, and other distinguished guests.
President of the Kosovo Chess Federation Mr. Armend Budima addressed the distinguished guests, and emphasized his happiness that Kosovo is organising one of the most prestigious European events this year. He thanked European Chess Union for entrusting them the organisation, and welcomed everyone to Pristina, Kosovo.
The ECU President Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili took the floor to address the players, organisers and distinguished guests. He expressed his satisfaction with the highest level of organisaton of chess tournaments in Kosovo, and said that ECU is delighted to introduce new countries and new federations to the players through European Championships. Mr. Azmaiparashvili then invited Kosovo’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Mr. Hajrullah Ceku, to address the guests, and declare the event opened.
Before officially declaring the event open, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Kosovo, Mr. Hajrullah Ceku emphasized that Kosovo is proud to be the organiser of European Chess Tournaments, and expressed his hopes that chess will be part of the Mediterranean Games 2030. He then wished good luck to the players, wished them nice stay in Pristina, and wished for the best to win the event.
After the Opening ceremony and speeches, the tournament was inaugurated in the playing venue when Mr. Hajrullah Ceku, Ms. Safije Sadiku Shahini, and Mr. Zurab Azmaiparshvili, played the first ceremonial move on the top-board game between Elena Destic (FRA) and Jaime Santos Latasa (ESP).
The first day of the European Rapid Chess Championship 2025 featured five games, and after five played rounds, only four players score maximum 5/5 points: GM Maxime Lagarde (FRA), GM Jergus Pechac (SVK), GM Zdenko Kozul (CRO), and GM Max Warmerdam (NED).
All results, rankings and pairings can be found here.
Live broadcast of the games together with commentaries by GM Alojzije Jankovic and WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili can be followed through the ECU YouTube channel.