After harsh struggles and drama in the final round of European Women’s Individual Chess Championship 2019, five players tied for the first place in Antalya, Turkey. According to the tiebreaks, Kashlinskaya Alina (RUS, 2477) stood on the throne and took a title of European Women’s Chess Champion 2019.
The last, 11th round, brought many interesting games and results. Stefanova Antoaneta (ECU, 2464) defeated Gaponenko Inna (UKR, 2428), the sole leader after 10 rounds, to reach the score of 8 points sharing the top. Kashlinskaya drew with blacks against Cramling Pia (SWE, 2640), Sebag Marie (FRA, 2461) drew against Dzagnidze Nana (GEO, 2513), while Paehtz Elisabeth (GER, 2456) won Atalik Ekaterina (TUR, 2455).
Five of them reached the same score of 8 points, but tiebreaks decided that Kashlinskaya Alina wins gold, Sebag Marie took silver, Paehtz Elisabeth came third, Gaponenko Inna was fourth, while Stefanova Antoaneta ended on the fifth place.
The Closing ceremony of the event took place yesterday evening, with attendance of President of European Chess Union, Mr. Zurab Azmiaparashvili, who awarded the prize and trophy to European Women’s Champion, ECU Vice-Presidents, Mr. Ivan Sokolov and Mrs. Eva Repkova, and President of Turkish Chess Federation, Mrs. Gulkiz Tulay.
According to the FIDE regulations and decision of the ECU Board, 14 players have qualified for the next FIDE Women’s World Cup.
The event was played from 10th-23rd of April 2019 in Antalya, Turkey, in 11 rounds, Swiss system, and with time control 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one. The total prize fund of the event was 60.000 EUR.
Each round was live transmitted, together with the live commentary GM Ioannis Papaioannou and IM Can Arduman and their special guests, among them the ECU Vice Presidents, Ivan Sokolov and Eva Repkova.
Official Website of the Championship
