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Sunday, 26 Feb 2023 22:31
Romanian Championship: Shevchenko and Lehaci win maiden titles

GM Kirill Shevchenko and WIM Miruna-Daria Lehaci are the new champions of Romania. Both won their maiden national titles.

The Romanian Championship took place from February 19–26, 2023, in Sebes and saw the triumph of young players. The open, women’s and amateur sections were 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control.

The third-rated Romanian player Kirill Shevchenko (pictured below), who completed his transfer from the Ukrainian to the Romanian federation last month, sure-footedly confirmed his status as the tournament favourite in the open event. The native of Kyiv scored an impressive 8/9, conceding his opponents just two draws.

Two other zoomers, IM David Gavrilescu and FM Samuel-Timotei Ghimpu, tied for second place, netting 6.5/9, with the former claiming silver thanks to a superior Buchholz.

The only female player in the open section IM Irina Bulmaga (pictured below) turned in a solid performance and shared fourth place with a large group of players. 

Final standings Open:

1

GM

Shevchenko, Kirill

2662

8

2

IM

Gavrilescu, David

2522

3

FM

Ghimpu, Samuel-Timotei

2455

4

IM

Bulmaga, Irina

2428

6

5

IM

David, Alexandru-Vasile

2405

6

6

GM

Parligras, Mircea-Emilian

2570

6

7

GM

Lupulescu, Constantin

2592

6

8

FM

Magold, Filip

2324

6

9

GM

Jianu, Vlad-Cristian

2518

6

10

GM

Szabo, Gergely-Andras-Gyula

2514

6


The women’s championship was a much closer competition as Miruna-Daria Lehaci and WGM Michaela Sandu (both pictured above) took turns leading the field and came to the final round sharing the top position. Lehaci pulled off a crucial victory with the black pieces in a complicated battle with WGM Elena-Luminita Cosma, whereas Sandu suffered a defeat at the hands of the top-rated participant, 12-time national champion IM Corina-Isabela Peptan.

With these results, Miruna-Daria Lehaci finished clear first, a full point ahead of four players tied for second place. The second tiebreak variable (Buchholz) favoured Mihaela Sandu, who took silver and WIM Angela Dragomirescu (bronze).

Final standings Women:

1

WIM

Lehaci, Miruna-Daria

2157

7

2

WGM

Sandu, Mihaela

2206

6

3

WIM

Dragomirescu, Angela

2113

6

4

WFM

Ciolacu, Alessia-Mihaela

2231

6

5

IM

Peptan, Corina-Isabela

2351

6

6

WIM

Sgircea, Silvia-Raluca

2237

7

WGM

Cosma, Elena-Luminita

2244

8

WCM

Stanciu, Andreea-Briana

1851

9

WFM

Pirvulescu, Ekaterina

2030

10

WCM

Paraschiv, Petronela-Alexandr

1846

5


NM Ion-Cristian Veneteanu emerged as the winner of the amateur section.  

Photo: Romanian Chess Federation Facebook page