The 2026 European Women’s Chess Championship officially opened today in Batumi, Georgia!
The Opening ceremony of the event took place in the tournament playing hall, shortly before the start of the first round. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Georgian Chess Federation and FIDE Special Task Director Mr. Akaki Iashvili, Deputy Head of Sports Department of autonomous republic of Adjara Mr. Aslan Baladze, ECU Tournament Director Mr. Petr Pisk, Chief Arbiter of the event Mr. Geert Bailleul, Chairman of the tournament Appeals Committee Mr. Stephane Escafre, member of Appeals Committee Ms. Melia Salome, and other distinguished guests.
In the opening speech, the President of the Georgian Chess Federation and FIDE Special Task Director Mr. Akaki Iashvili welcomed the players and distinguished guests to the most important Women’s chess tournament in Europe which will not only crown the new European champion, but will also determine 10 qualifiers for the next FIDE World Chess Cup. He thanked European Chess Union for entrusting the organization of the event to the Georgian Chess Federation, and wished the players good games and pleasant stay in Batumi.
The ECU Tournament Director Mr. Petr Pisk then addressed the players and guests, thanking the President of Georgian Chess Federation Mr. Akaki Iashvili for excellent organization of the Championship. Mr. Pisk wished the players good luck, and officially declared the event open.
Just before the start of the clocks and official beginning of the round, the Chief Arbiter of the event Mr. Geert Bailleul addressed the players and briefly spoke about the tournament rules and key information. He also thanked the European Chess Union and Georgian Chess Federation for organizing the event on the highest level with outstanding playing conditions in the tournament venue.
The players were eager to start the clocks and play the first moves. The tournament gathers 165 players coming from 32 federations, including renowned Grandmasters and International masters.
The first round of the event saw great fights over the boards and a few major upsets. Along with 20 draws, some of the rating favourites suffered losses at the very start of the tournament. Playing on the 18th board, WFM Alena Skvortsova (MNE, 2135) defeated IM Klaudia Kulon (POL, 2377), while WFM Varvara Poliakova (FIDE, 2108) scored against 2025 European Women’s Vice-Champion IM Irina Bulmaga (ROU, 2361). WFM Nvard Hayrapetyan (ARM, 2057) was victorious against IM Sofio Gvetadze (GEO, 2311), and WFM Polina Kobak (ARM 1986) defeated FM Liwia Jarocka (POL, 2288).
On the top ten boards we witnessed three draws. GM Anna Ushenina (UKR, 2420) drew with Blacks against WFM Kseniya Zeliantsova (FIDE, 2176) after having slightly worse position from the opening. GM Bella Khotenashvili (GEO, 2415) was facing serious trouble against WGM Inga Khurtsilava (GEO, 2175) with a decisively better position for the latter, but managed to save the game and take half a point. The 2023 European Champion IM Meri Arabidze (GEO, 2409) didn’t manage to prevail against WIM Martyna Starosta (POL, 2175) who defended well in a slightly worse position. IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL, 2404) missed her winning chances against WFM Rebeca Jimenez Fernandez (ESP, 2166) and the game ended in draw.
All results from the first round and the pairings for the next round can be found here.
The second round of the event starts tomorrow at 13:00 CEST (15:00 local time in Georgia), and live video broadcast of the event with commentaries by GM Valerian Gaprindashvili and WIM Sandra Djukic can be followed on the ECU YouTube channel.
Photo gallery can be found on the ECU Flickr account.
Day 1 video recap by Georgian Chess Federation can be seen below: