The second round of the European Women’s Chess Championship 2026 took place today at the Euphoria Hotel, in Batumi, Georgia.
Ahead of today’s Round 2 battles at the European Women’s Chess Championship 2026, the players enjoyed a delicious Khinkali Party for lunch. Khinkali, a traditional Georgian dish, is a legendary staple of Georgian hospitality. It was the perfect way for the players to experience the rich culinary culture of the host nation, share a few smiles outside the playing hall, and prepare for the games.
Ahead of today's Round 2 battles at the European Women's Chess Championship 2026, the players enjoyed a delicious Khinkali Party for lunch! 🧑🍳♟️ #ewcc2026 #Georgia
— European Chess Union (@ECUonline) May 26, 2026
Khinkali – traditional Georgian food is a legendary staple of Georgian hospitality. It was the perfect way for the… pic.twitter.com/tZCt9F7jzP
The event continued with great fighting spirit at the venue, and we again witnessed several major upsets on the top boards.
The biggest upset of the round occurred on the second board in the game between second-seeded IM Yuliia Osmak (UKR, 2451) and WFM Charis Peglau (GER, 2238). Playing with White, Yuliia Osmak gained an opening advantage, but Peglau equalised in the middlegame. As time trouble approached, both players made a few inaccuracies, but the outcome favoured Charis Peglau, who gained a decisive advantage and eventually secured the win.
WFM Anastasiia Hnatyshyn (UKR, 2207) defeated the higher-rated IM Marina Brunello (ITA, 2346). It was a very solid and precise game by the 16-year-old Ukrainian player, who gained the advantage early in the middlegame and convincingly secured the win without giving her opponent any chances.
WGM Michalina Rudzinska (POL, 2200) scored against rating favourite IM Gulnar Mammadova (AZE, 2325) after a very interesting and dynamic game. It seemed that Black had a more practical position, and Rudzinska successfully proved this after her opponent made a mistake with 33.gh4?. The Polish Grandmaster took the advantage and secured victory after a sequence of precise moves.
WFM Varvara Poliakova (FIDE, 2108) impressed once again. After yesterday’s win over Romanian representative IM Irina Bulmaga (ROU, 2361), she today defeated Serbian representative WGM Sofia Pogorelskikh (SRB, 2284). Poliakova gained a slight advantage with Black out of the opening and demonstrated excellent play throughout to secure her second win in the tournament.
As in the opening round, today’s second round ended with 20 draws. Top seed IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE, 2455) drew with Black against FM Alexandra Zherebtsova (MNE, 2242). Tetyana Skarbarchuk (UKR, 2236) drew against the higher-rated IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO, 2442). WIM Bozhena Piddubna (UKR, 2235) managed to escape from a worse position and drew against IM Dinara Wagner (GER, 2408). WIM Noga Orian (ISR, 2231) missed her winning chances and drew against IM Olga Badelka (AUT, 2392), while IM Guna Mammadzada (AZE, 2374) and WIM Anna Kubicka (POL, 2226) played a very solid game that ended in a draw.
The third round starts tomorrow at 13:00 CEST (15:00 – local time) and the top board pairings are as follows. All results from the second and first round, as well as the pairings for the upcoming third round can be found here.
Live video broadcast of the games with commentaries by GM Valerian Gaprindashvili and WIM Sandra Djukic can be followed through the ECU YouTube channel.
Photo gallery can be found on the ECU Flickr page
