GM Alexandr Fier and FM Juliana Sayumi Terao are the new Brazilian chess champions. It is Alexandr’s fourth national title and sixth victory in a national championship for Juliana Saymi.

The 88th Absolute Brazilian Championship and the 61st Brazilian Women’s Championship took place at the Hotel Jangadeiro in the city of Recife, capital of Pernambuco, from December 15-23. Both events were Swiss tournaments with classical time control.

Just like last year, the rating favourites Alexandr Fier and the defending champion Luis Paolo Supi started strong, winning four straight games, but the latter fell to Diego Rafael Di Berardino, who grabbed the lead after Round 5. Fier, however, beat Di Berardino in Round 7 and pulled ahead.

Coming into the final round a half-point ahead of three players tied for second place, Alexandr defeated Guimaraes Diogo Duarte with black pieces and clinched the title with an excellent score of 9.5/11. GM Yago De Moura Santiago and IM Roberto Junio Brito Molina finished a half-point behind the champion and shared second place. The silver medal goes to Santiago, thanks to a slightly better Buchholz.

Final standings:

The women’s championship saw the dominance of the rating favourite FM Juliana Sayumi Terao, who steamrolled her opponents, winning all nine games and securing the title with a round to spare. NM Ellen Larissa Bail netted 7/9 and won silver; the second-rated Kathie Goulart Librelato earned bronze.

Final standings:

Official website: cbx.org.br/