After six played rounds at the European Individual Chess Championship 2026, GM Vignir Vatnar Stefansson (ISL, 2512) emerged as the sole leader of the event with the score of 5.5/6 points!
GM Vignir Vatnar Stefansson prevailed today with the black pieces against GM Lorenzo Lodici (ITA, 2601) in a very tense game. After balanced opening where Black looked okay, Stefansson managed to take the clear edge and win the pawn transposing to complex Queens endgame. Lodici had his chances to play for a draw, but made mistakes in critical moments, allowing the Icelandic representative to convert the advantage into a win.
With today’s victory, Stefansson emerged as the sole leader of the event, putting himself half a point ahead of group of 16 players who tie for second place scoring 5/6 points each.
Trailing by half a point, GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM, 2621), GM Can Isik (TUR, 2563), GM Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN, 2623), GM Aydin Suleymanli (AZE, 2653), GM Eduardo Bonelli Iturrizaga (ESP, 2575), GM Daniel Dardha (BEL, 2596), GM Jan Malek (POL, 2533), GM Nikolozi Kacharava (GEO, 2500), GM David Anton Guijarro (ESP, 2656), GM Nikita Meshkovs (LAT, 2532), GM Jaime Santos Latasa (ESP, 2610), GM Haik Martirosyan (ARM, 2633), GM Maxime Lagarde (FRA, 2621), GM Jakub Kosakowski (POL, 2533), IM Teodora Injac (SRB, 2410), and GM Alexander Donchenko (GER, 2642), tie for the second place.
Today’s round was opened by ECU Deputy President and FIDE Managing Director Ms. Dana Reizniece-Ozola and Mayor of Gliwice Ms. Katarzyna Kuczynska-Budka, who made the first ceremonial move on the top board in the game between GM Robert Hovhannisyan and GM Can Isik.
Pairings, results & standings can be found here.
Detailed information about the event are available on the Official website of the event.
Photos by ECU & Rafal Oleksiewicz