IM Iulian Baltag and IM Svetlana Petrenko are 2021 Moldovian Champions.

Iulian Baltag defended his title in a Swiss-tournament, brushing aside the competition of 22 players, including eight International Masters. On the road to the title, he drew four games and scored five wins (7 out of 9), including a very important last-round victory. This is his third triumph in the national championship after 2012 and 2020.

Photo: Iulian Baltag Facebook page              

Andrei Macovei finished just a half-point behind the champion; Ivan Schitco shared the third position with Nichita Morozov but took bronze thanks to better tiebreaks.

Final standings:

1. Baltag Iulian (2393) – 7
2. Macovei Andrei (2453) – 6½
3. Schitco Ivan (2473) – 6
4. Morozov Nichita (2400) – 6
5. Soltanici Ruslan (2410) – 5½
6. Ceres Dragos (2244) – 5½
7. Zajarnyi Anatolyi (2289) – 5½
8. Agafii Victor (2236) – 5
9. Bargan Sergiu (2259) – 5
10. Buzdugan Alexandru (1658) – 5

In the women's section Svetlana Petrenko and defending champion, Valentina Verbin both netted 6/9 and tied for first place. The tiebreak put Petrenko on top as she emerged as a winner in their direct encounter in Round 3. This is Petrenko's 13th (!) national title. Twelve players took part in this 7-round Swiss tournament held at the beginning of February.

Photo: https://sahmoldova.md/

Final standings:

1. Petrenko Svetlana (2030) – 6
2. Verbin Valentina (2014) – 6
3. Mihailova Alina (1741) – 5
4. Petricenco Ana (1720) – 4
5. Bargan Victoria (1542) – 4
6. Bitca Emilia (1238) – 3½
7. Dulteva Anastasia (1268) – 3
8. Varekha Anna (1707) – 2½
9. Golban Liudmila (1652) – 2½
10. Grebeniuc Alexandra (1228) – 2