After eleven thrilling rounds at the European Women’s Chess Championship 2023, two players emerged on the top, tying for first place with 8.5 points each: IM Meri Arabidze (GEO, 2433) and IM Oliwia Kiolbasa (POL, 2406).
Thanks to her 8th-round victory in the direct encounter over the Polish IM (the first tiebreaker), Meri Arabidze clinched the European Women’s Chess Champion title.
Oliwia Kiolbasa (pictured above) had to settle for the silver medal.
Four players scored 8 points each to tie for third place: IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya (POL, 2388), IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE, 2358), IM Salome Melia (GEO, 2366) and IM Klaudia Kulon (POL, 2290). Aleksandra Maltsevskaya had the best tiebreaks and claimed bronze.
Final standings:
|
1 |
IM |
Arabidze, Meri |
GEO |
2433 |
8½ |
|
2 |
IM |
Kiolbasa, Oliwia |
POL |
2406 |
8½ |
|
3 |
IM |
Maltsevskaya, Aleksandra |
POL |
2388 |
8 |
|
4 |
IM |
Tsolakidou, Stavroula |
GRE |
2358 |
8 |
|
5 |
IM |
Melia, Salome |
GEO |
2366 |
8 |
|
6 |
IM |
Kulon, Klaudia |
POL |
2290 |
8 |
|
7 |
IM |
Javakhishvili, Lela |
GEO |
2443 |
7½ |
|
8 |
IM |
Garifullina, Leya |
FID |
2372 |
7½ |
|
9 |
FM |
Toncheva, Nadya |
BUL |
2192 |
7½ |
|
10 |
IM |
Sargsyan, Anna M. |
ARM |
2371 |
7½ |
The Closing ceremony of the event took place yesterday evening with the attendance of ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, ECU Vice President Alojzije Jankovic, ECU CEO Erald Dervishi, ECU Honorary Vice President and Vice President of the Montenegro Chess Federation Veselin Draskovic, and the President of the Montenegro Chess Federation Jovan Milovic.
The European Women’s Chess Championship 2023 took place from March 17-30 in Petrovac, Montenegro, and brought together over 130 players from 34 federations. The total prize fund of the event was EUR 60,000, and according to the ECU Board decision and FIDE regulations, nine players qualified for the next FIDE Women’s World Cup.
Text: europechess.org/
Photo: Official website
