National Championship – International Chess Federation

David Navara and Joanna Worek crowned Czech Republic Champions

editor_d — Sat, 16 May 2026 21:35:38 +0000

GM David Navara and WGM Joanna Worek emerged victorious at the 2026 Czech National Championship. David claimed his 14th (!) title – a remarkable achievement – edging out rising star Václav Finěk, while Joanna captured her second national crown.

The 2026 Czech Championship, held in open and women’s sections, took place at the Bowling Brno area from May 7–16, 2026, and attracted most of the country’s top players. The open event was a 10-player round-robin, while the women’s competition followed an elimination system, comprising a preliminary round followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.

The open event evolved into a gripping duel between the two top seeds: Navara and Czech chess’s brightest young talent, Václav Finěk. Navara seized an early lead, but Finěk caught up with him after Round 5. The direct clash in Round 7 ended in a draw leaving them tied for the top position.

Both finished strongly, winning their last two games and totaling 7.5/9 points, but the superior Sonneborn–Berger tiebreaker awarded the title to Navara. Both the champion and the runner-up completed the competition unbeaten.

The bronze medal went to the experienced grandmaster Štěpán Žilka, who secured a draw against Richard Stalmach in the last round. The entire tournament was marked by uncompromising battles, with only 16 games out of 45 ending in a draw.

Final standings – Open

The women’s competition was arguably even more dramatic, with all medals matches decided in Armageddon tiebreak games. In the end, Joanna Worek won the gold medal, defeating WGM Kristýna Petrova. In the match for third place, WGM Tereza Rodshtein claimed bronze after overcoming WGM Olga Sikorová.

Final standings – Women

The PR manager of the Czech Chess Association and tournament director, Josef Bednařík, gave his thoughts on the Czech Championship during the closing ceremony: “I am thrilled with the course of this year’s Czech Championship. I would like to thank all the players for their fighting spirit and fair-play approach. The spectators certainly enjoyed the exciting games and the course of the tournaments, and I did too.”

The 2026 Czech Championship was supported by the statutory city of Brno, the South Moravian Region, the Bowling Brno area, and the Hotel Velká Klajdovka. Special thanks go to the Mayor of the statutory city of Brno, JUDr. Markéta Vaňková, and the 1st Deputy Governor of the South Moravian Region, Jiří Crh, who served as personal patrons of the tournament.

Photos: Czech Chess Federation (Facebook)

Official website: https://www.chess.cz/

Icelandic Championship 2026: Hilmir Freyurisson claims maiden title

editor_d — Sat, 09 May 2026 22:49:21 +0000

IM Hilmir Freyurisson emerged as the winner of the 2026 Icelandic Championship, securing his maiden national title.

The 2026 edition of the Icelandic Championship, a 10-player round-robin with classical time control, took place in Reykjavik from May 1–9. The event was a very close race, with as many as three players – Freyurisson (7/8), defending champion GM Vignir Vatnar Stefansson (6.5/8), and GM Hannes Stefansson (6/8) – having a shot at the title heading into the final round.

Freyurisson took matters into his own hands and clinched the title by defeating FM Bárður Örn Birkisson. The champion’s record in this event is nothing short of remarkable: eight wins, one loss, and not a single draw.

Vignir Vatnar Stefansson also pulled off a final-round victory over Gudmundur Kjartansson but finished half a point behind the champion. Notably, he was the only player to beat the champion and completed the event undefeated.

Hannes Stefansson rounded out the podium with 6.5/9 following a quick draw with IM Dagur Ragnarsson in the final round.

Final standings

Photos: https://skak.is/

Official website: https://skak.is/

Egon Mattaaq wins historic first Greenlandic Chess Championship

editor_d — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:52:24 +0000

In late April 2026, a quiet but significant milestone was reached at the edge of the Arctic. From April 24 to 26, Greenland staged its first-ever national chess championship – a groundbreaking event that brought together players from across the country in a unified competition.

The tournament was played over seven rounds on Lichess and featured 10 participants. In a country where vast distances and challenging geography often make travel difficult, the online format proved to be the perfect solution, allowing players from multiple cities and settlements to compete together in an official national championship for the very first time.

After three days of intense play, Egon Mattaaq (6/7) of Upernavik Chess Club emerged as the inaugural national champion. Silver went to Hans Christian Dahl (5/7), while Carl Fleischer (4/7) claimed the bronze medal.

Final standings

Self-taught 24-year-old champion works night shifts as a fish packer. Mattaaq’s victory carries special significance. He represents Upernavik, a small town located on an island of the same name in northwestern Greenland. With a population of just 1,067 people as of 2025, Upernavik is a powerful reminder that chess talent can emerge from even the most remote communities.

The championship marks an important step forward for the development of chess in Greenland. The national federation, Kalaallit Nunaanni Skakkertut Kattuffiat, was founded in 2014 with the mission of promoting and developing the game across the island. A major milestone followed on September 24, 2024, when the federation was unanimously admitted as a full associated member of FIDE during its 100th anniversary congress in Budapest.

While Greenland has traditionally had a small chess culture, recent years have seen growing efforts to expand the game. A key contributor to this development has been Hrókurinn, whose members have been traveling to Greenland since 2003, organizing events in towns and villages and helping to inspire new generations of players.

The success of the 2026 championship demonstrates that, despite geographical challenges, a vibrant chess community is taking shape. By connecting players across the country and providing a national platform for competition, the event represents not just a tournament, but the beginning of a new chapter for chess in Greenland.

Sérgio Pereira and Ariete Almeida crowned São Tomé and Príncipe chess champions

editor_d — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:36:07 +0000

The São Tomé and Príncipe Chess Federation (FEXASTP) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the 2026 National Absolute Chess Championship and Women’s National Chess Championship, held at Hotel Miramar in São Tomé.

The open tournament was played over 11 rounds and brought together the country’s top players in a highly competitive field. The rating favorite Sérgio Pereira lived up to his top billing and emerged as the winner, scoring 8.5 points out of 11.

Waldyr Espírito Santo finished in second place with 8 points, maintaining an unbeaten record throughout the tournament. Jeremias Costa placed third with 6.5 points and achieved the title of National Master.

Final standings – Absolute National Championship

In the Women’s Championship, a seven-player round-robin, Ariete Almeida delivered a dominant performance, winning all six of her games. Emelisa Malone and Carla Taraveira claimed silver and bronze, respectively.

Final standings – Women’s National Championship

The Federation congratulates all participants for their commitment, sportsmanship, and contribution to the continued development of chess in São Tomé and Príncipe. The overall level of play reflects the steady progress of national chess and reinforces FEXASTP’s mission to promote the sport both locally and internationally.

FEXASTP extends its appreciation to Abnildo Oliveira, President of Parliament, and all partners, organizers, and the venue, Hotel Miramar, for their support in ensuring the success of the championships.

Photos: CST and São Tomé and Príncipe Chess Federation Facebook

Danish Championship 2026: Bjorn Moller Ochsner claims second title

editor_d — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:28:00 +0000

GM Bjorn Moller Ochsner is the newly crowned Danish chess champion. The 31-year-old native of Aarhus claimed his second national crown after edging out IM Filip Boe Olsen in a rapid tiebreaker for the title.

The Danish Championship 2026 took place from March 28 to April 6 in Svendborg, a small town that has hosted the last ten editions. The event was held in eight different sections, with the national title at stake in the Landskampklasse, a 10-player round-robin with classical time control.

Although several top Danish players (including the 2025 champion Jesper Thybo) opted not to participate, it was a fiercely contested tournament with the champion decided only on tiebreak. Ochsner seized an early lead but suffered two defeats and was overtaken by IM Filip Boe Olsen, who headed into the final round a half-point ahead of IM Viktor Haarmark Nielsen and a full point in front of Ochsner.

As tournament fate would have it, Ochsner and Olsen faced each other in the final showdown, while Nielsen took on FM Casper Liu. In a dramatic turn of events, Ochsner scored a crucial victory over Olsen to catch up with him on points, while Nielsen lost his game and finished joint third with GM Boris Chatalbashev.

To determine the champion, a two-game rapid tiebreaker was played. After winning the first game with Black, Ochsner achieved an overwhelming position in the second but let his opponent off the hook, allowing a draw that secured him the title.

Final standings

Photos: Thomas Vestergård

Official website: https://nyheder.skak.dk/

Szymon Gumularz and Oliwia Kiolbasa win 2026 Polish Championship

editor_d — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:21:00 +0000

GM Szymon Gumularz and IM Oliwia Kiolbasa are the newly crowned Polish chess champions, both claiming their maiden national titles.

The 2026 Polish Chess Championship, featuring open and women’s sections, was held in Warsaw from March 22–30. Like the 2025 edition, the 2026 competitions were 10-player round-robins with classical time control, attracting the country’s best players.

Gumularz (pictured below) made a spectacular start in the open event, notching up five consecutive victories that effectively settled the question of the eventual champion. Despite finishing with four draws, he confidently secured the title with a round to spare, scoring an impressive 7/9.

Last year’s runner-up, GM Jakub Kosakowski, again claimed silver with 5.5/9, while Łukasz Licznerski edged out Paweł Teclaf and Radosław Wojtaszek to complete the podium (all three scored 5/9).

Final standings – Open

The women’s event proved much more tense competition that came down to the wire. Despite her first-round loss, Alicja Śliwicka reeled off three straight victories and led most of the tournament. Still, heading into the final round with 6/8, she could not feel safe as Kiolbasa was trailing her by just half a point. In a dramatic turn of events, Śliwicka lost to the 2025 champion Klaudia Kulon, while Kiolbasa pulled off a crucial victory over Maria Siekańska to capture the title with 6.5/9. Notably, the new champion finished with five consecutive wins.

The top seed Alina Kashlinskaya, Monika Socko, and Śliwicka shared second place on 6/9, with Kashlinskaya and Śliwicka taking silver and bronze respectively on tiebreaks.

Final standings – Women

Photos: Polski Związek Szachowy

Monaco Championship 2026: Levacic and Dornbusch claim titles

editor_d — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:46:18 +0000

IM Damir Levacic and WGM Tatiana Dornbusch are newly crowned chess champions of еру Principality. The Monaco Chess Championship 2026, a 7-round Swiss tournament held from February 23 to March 1, brought together the country’s leading players with man and women competing in the same pool. The event not only determined the national titleholders but also finalized the selection of the teams representing Monaco at the upcoming Chess Olympiad.

Open and women’s titles

IM Damir Levacic emerged as the clear winner of the tournament, scoring 5.5/7 to secure the title of Monaco Champion 2026. Despite suffering a third-round defeat at the hands of top seed GM Amir Bagheri, Levacic finished strongly with three straight victories to clinch the title.

Five players shared second place on 5 points, reflecting the highly competitive nature of the championship:

GM Amir Bagheri
Riccardo Costalonga
GM Igor Efimov
FM Alexis Cahen
FM Patrice Verdier

Tie-break criteria determined the final ranking among the players on equal points.

WGM Tatiana Dornbusch secured the title of Women’s Champion of Monaco 2026, finishing as the highest-ranked female player with a score of 4.5/7. She edged out WIM Marija Zvereva who achieved the same score but had an inferior Buchholz-tiebreak.

WCM Svetlana Berezovska and WCM Fiorina Berezovsky also completed solid tournaments.

Complete final standings

Monaco teams for the Chess Olympiad

Based on the results of the national championship and selection criteria, the Monaco Chess Federation confirmed the following line-ups for the forthcoming Chess Olympiad:

Open team

IM Damir Levacic
GM Amir Bagheri
Riccardo Costalonga
GM Igor Efimov
FM Alexis Cahen

Women’s team

WGM Tatiana Dornbusch
WIM Marija Zvereva
WCM Svetlana Berezovska
WCM Fiorina Berezovsky
WIM Julia Lebel (82)

The composition of both teams combines experienced titled players with motivated competitors, aiming to represent Monaco with strength and stability on the international stage.

Uganda finalises Olympiad line-up at 2026 National Championship

editor_d — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:54:28 +0000

The 2026 Uganda National Chess Championship (Super 12) has concluded after three consecutive weekends of high-level competition and 11 demanding rounds of classical chess, officially determining Uganda’s representatives for the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The championship, organised by the Uganda Chess Federation (UCF), brought together the country’s strongest twelve players in each section under the round-robin format. With Olympiad qualification at stake, every round carried significant weight, producing tense encounters, decisive moments and dramatic shifts in the standings.

Open section: A battle to the final round

The Open section lived up to expectations, with qualification places remaining uncertain until the very end. Nyola Wasswa Mark emerged as the clear winner after delivering a consistent performance across all 11 rounds, scoring 8.5/11 and finishing a full point ahead of the chasing pack to secure the national title.

Among the tournament’s defining games was the encounter between current national coach Ssonko Mathias Allan and former national coach FM Harold Wanyama. In a result that reshaped the leaderboard, Ssonko prevailed in a fiercely contested battle. Despite the significance of that victory, final tie-break calculations placed both players narrowly outside the top five qualification spots, highlighting the extraordinary competitiveness and depth of the field.

Final standings – Open

Women’s Section: A Generational Shift

The Women’s section marked a historic turning point, producing what is now the youngest Olympiad team in Uganda’s history. Four of the five qualifiers are under 20, reflecting the growing strength of youth development structures and the emergence of a confident new generation.

Players affiliated with KTLCA Chess Club featured prominently among the leaders, underlining the impact of sustained grassroots programmes. One of the most symbolic moments of the championship came when the youngest participant, Suhana Yadav, defeated the experienced WCM Asaba Juliet in a dynamic and hard-fought game. The result captured the spirit of transition that characterised the event a blend of experience meeting rising ambition.

Final standings – Women

The championship concluded with a dignified closing ceremony attended by members of the UCF Executive Committee and led by the UCF President. In his address, he commended the players for their resilience and fighting spirit throughout the demanding schedule, noting that the championship demonstrated both the depth of talent and the evolving competitive standards of Ugandan chess.

With the national team now confirmed, attention shifts to preparations for the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, where Uganda will join federations from across the globe in the most prestigious team event on the international chess calendar.

Photos: Ivan Mukuye, Bani Chess – Arthur Mukunya

Romanian Championship 2026: Bogdan-Daniel Deac and Corina-Isabela Peptan claim titles

editor_d — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:26:44 +0000

GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac and IM Corina-Isabela Peptan triumphed at the 2026 edition of the Romanian Championship. Deac won his second national title (his first came back in 2021), while Peptan claimed her 13th (!) women’s crown. The event took place in Timișoara from February 14–22 across three sections – Open, Women, and Amateurs – all 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control.

Top seed Deac lived up to expectations and emerged as champion, but it was no walk in the park for him. Deac got off to an excellent start, winning four straight games and taking the lead, but GM David Gavrilescu caught up with him in the very next round. Deac surged ahead again, only to share the top spot after Round 7 – this time with another strong competitor IM Filip Magold.

In the penultimate round, Deac scored a crucial victory over FM Artiom Vedmediuc and pulled away again, as Magold drew with Constantin Lupulescu. Heading into the final round a half point ahead of Magold, Deac drew with IM Henry Edward Tudor and secured the title with an impressive score of 7.5/9, as his main rival also split the point with Gavrilescu. Magold and Lupulescu (who pulled off a final-round victory) tied for second place on 7/9, with the former claiming silver due to superior tiebreaks.

Final standings – Open

Top seed in the women’s event, Corina-Isabela Peptan, also rose to the occasion, claiming her record-breaking thirteenth national title. Peptan reeled off four consecutive victories in Rounds 3–6 and seized the lead, which she never relinquished. Drawing three final games proved sufficient to claim the crown.

IM Andreea-Marioara Cosman finished a half point behind the champion for silver, while WGM Elena-Luminita Cosma edged out four competitors on superior Buchholz score to complete the podium.

Final standings – Women

Răzvan-Cătălin Tudoroiu emerged as the winner in the Amateur section.

Final standings – Amateurs

Photos: Federația Română de Șah

Mahammad Muradli and Ulviyya Fataliyeva win Azerbaijani Championship 2026

editor_d — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:51:59 +0000

Mahammad Muradli and Ulviyya Fataliyeva are the newly crowned Azerbaijani chess champions. In the final matches, Muradli defeated Shakhriyar Mamedyarov to win the competition for the third time, while Fataliyeva prevailed over Ayan Allahverdiyeva to claim her maiden national title.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Championships took place in the country’s capital, Baku, from February 6-22. Both the open and women’s competitions were knockout tournaments (two-game matches with tiebreakers if needed) played under classical time controls. The total prize fund was 62,000 AZN (~$36,500 USD) for the open section and 30,000 AZN (~$17,500 USD) for the women’s event.

The open tournament, which attracted 30 participants, began with a preliminary round. The winners advanced to join the seeded players in the Round of 16. Muradli smoothly progressed to the quarterfinals, where he defeated Eltaj Safarli in the rapid tiebreaker. At this stage, the 2025 Azerbaijani champion Rauf Mamedov was eliminated, losing to IM Read Samadov. The rating favorite and last year’s finalist, Mamedyarov, needed no tiebreaks to reach the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Muradli convincingly outplayed Samadov in the second classical game after drawing the first, securing his place in the final. The other semifinal match was much tenser and saw Mamedyarov battle past the young Aydin Suleymanli, winning the third rapid game to advance.

The first game of the final between Mamedyarov and Muradli ended in a draw after a sharp tactical battle. In the second game, Muradli took full advantage of Mamedyarov’s mistake right out of the opening, winning the match and the title. In the match for third place, Suleymanli defeated Samadov twice to claim the bronze medal.

In the women’s event, top seed IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva confirmed her pre-tournament favorite status, cruising past her opponents and advancing to the final. Somewhat surprisingly, her opponent in the title match was the seventh seed, WIM Ayan Allahverdiyeva, who eliminated defending champion Gunay Mammadzada in the quarterfinals and became the revelation of the tournament.

Despite a substantial rating difference, the final match was very close. After the opponents exchanged victories in the classical games, Fataliyeva took control in the tiebreak, capturing her first national title.

Gulnar Mammadova defeated Turkan Mammadyarova 1.5-0.5 in the match for third place to complete the podium.

Photos: Azerbaijan Chess Federation