The European Senior Chess Championship 2026 concluded yesterday in Acqui Terme, Italy!
The event was played in two age categories: 50+ and 65+, open and women’s sections separately, gathering nearly 250 players coming from 34 European federations.
After nine played rounds, GM Jean-Marc Degraeve (FRA, 2494) emerged as the sole winner of the 50+ Open competition, scoring 7/9 points. As many as five players tied for silver with the score of 6.5/9 points (each): GM Daniel Gormally (ENG, 2391), GM Martin Mrva (SVK, 2354), Marcel Thirion (BEL, 2094), IM Josep Anton Lacasa Diaz (ESP, 2325) and IM Fred Berend (LUX, 2208). Having the best tiebreak criteria, GM Daniel Gormally (ENG, 2391) clinched silver, while GM Martin Mrva (SVK, 2354) won bronze medal.
IM Silvia Alexieva (FRA, 2195) emerged victorious in the Women’s 50+ Championship with the score of 8/9 points. Alexieva finished a half-point ahead of WGM Elvira Berend (LUX, 2239) who won silver medal with 7.5/9 points, while IM Elena Sedina (ITA, 2229) came third with 7/9 points.
GM Zurab Sturua (GEO, 2484) triumphed in the Open 65+ category with the score of 7.5/9 points, emerging as the sole winner of the event. Eric Boulard (FRA, 2224) and IM Gerard Welling (NED, 2223) tied for second place scoring 7/9 points (each), but Eric Boulard had better tiebreaks to win silver medal, and Gerard Welling came third.
WIM Elena Krasenkowa (POL, 2006) clinched the title in the Women’s 65+ competition. Krasenkowa finished the event with the score of 7/9 points, a half-point ahead of WFM Margarita Baliuniene (LTU, 1974) who came second with 6.5 points. WIM Ligia-Letitia Jicman (ROU, 2091) was third with the score of 6 points.
Final rankings can be found here.
The Closing ceremony of the event took place yesterday evening, with the attendance of the ECU Vice Presidents Mr. Gunnar Bjornsson and Mr. Jean-Michel Rapaire, Tournament Director Ms. Cristina Pernici Rigo who awarded the winners, the Chief Arbiter of the event Mr. Panagiotis Nikolopoulos who read the results and announced the Winners, and distinguished guests and players.
Photos by Melih Cicek – Photo gallery can be found on the ECU Flickr page
