European Senior Chess Championship 2025 concluded in Rabac, Croatia! The event was played in two age sections: 50+ and 65+, Open and Women’s sections separately, with the participation of more than 160 players coming from 30 European federations.
GM Jean-Marc Degraeve (FRA, 2478) emerged as the sole Winner of the Open 50+ category. With the score of 7/9 points, he clinched the title of the European Senior 50+ Chess Champion for 2025. Three players scored 6.5 points each and tied for the second place. IM Josep Anton Lacasa Diaz (ESP, 2301) had the best tiebreaks to win silver, GM Frank Holzke (GER, 2409) claimed bronze, and GM Throstur Thorhallsson (ISL, 2391) finished the event in the fourth place.
Two players tied for the top of the Open 65+ section, scoring 7/9 points each: GM Zurab Sturua (GEO, 2491) and GM John Nunn (ENG, 2521). Having better tiebreak criteria, GM Zurab Sturua won gold, while GM John Nunn came second. Scoring 6.5 points each, GM Lubomir Ftacnik (SVK, 2431) and IM John Pigott (ENG, 2293) tied for bronze, but GM Lubomir Ftacnik had better tiebreaks to clinch the medal.
WIM Gundula Heinatz (SUI, 2056) and WFM Margit Brokko (EST, 1985) scored 7/9 points (each) in the Women’s 50+ section to tie for the first place. WIM Gundula Heinatz had better tiebreaks and won the title, and WFM Margit Brokko came second. WFM Petra Fink-Nunn (ENG, 1983) claimed bronze with the score of 6 points.
Seven rounds were played in the Women’s 65+ category, and WIM Ligia-Letitia Jicman (ROU, 2091) won the event with the score of 5.5 points. WFM Margarita Baliuniene (LTU, 1915) came second with the score of 5 points, and WFM Elzbieta Sosnowska (POL, 1780) won bronze with 4.5 points and better tiebreaks than WFM Simona Orel Music (SLO, 1913) who had the same score.
Final rankings can be found here.
