The European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2024 have commenced in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The European Women’s Blitz Chess Championship 2024 is the first event on the schedule, taking place on January 10. The 13-round Swiss tournament, with a time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment, features a prize fund of €15,200 and has attracted 134 players from 28 European federations.

Defending champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI, 2430) leads the field in the blitz event. Other top seeds include GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL, 2392), IM Ann Matnadze Bujiashvili (ESP, 2379), IM Meri Arabidze (GEO, 2378), IM Dinara Wagner (GER, 2368), IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (ESP, 2356), and GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER, 2355).

The European Women’s Rapid Chess Championship 2024, an 11-round Swiss tournament with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment, is scheduled for January 11-12 at the same venue. The event, offering a prize fund of €31,300, has drawn 148 participants.

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI, 2491) also defends her title in the rapid event and headlines the starting list. Among the top-seeded contenders are GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER, 2407), IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE, 2393), GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL, 2385), GM Bella Khotenashvili (GEO, 2361), IM Ekaterina Atalik (TUR, 2355), and GM Pia Cramling (SWE, 2354).

Live video broadcast of the event is available on the ECU YouTube channel with the commentaries by GM Alojzije Jankovic, GM Amir Bagheri and IM Almira Skripchenko.