Stay updated with breaking news from Live Chessbase. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Thanks to a final-round victory over Armenia, Ukraine got their first gold medals at the open section of the European Team Championships. France came second after beating Azerbaijan, with Alireza Firouzja beating Shakhriyar Mamedyarov to climb to second place in the world ranking and become the youngest ever player to cross the 2800-rating barrier. Poland finished in third place. | Photos: ECU Press
An eighth win in as many matches gave Russia tournament victory at the women’s section of the European Team Championships with a round to spare. This is Russia’s fourth consecutive title and the seventh in the last eight events. Meanwhile, in the open section, four teams go into the final round tied for first place — Armenia, France, Azerbaijan and Ukraine. | Photos: Mark Livshitz
Azerbaijan and Ukraine are sharing the lead after seven rounds in the open section of the European Team Championships. While Azerbaijan defeated the Netherlands on Friday, Ukraine inflicted Russia’s first loss of the event. The best individual performer in Slovenia, Alireza Firouzja, scored his sixth win of the tournament and is now 1.1 Elo points away from reaching the 2800 rating barrier. In the women’s section, the defending champions of Russia still have a perfect score. | Photos: ECU Press
In an exciting twist, Fabiano Caruana beat former sole leader Alireza Firouzja in the open section of the FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss to set up a thrilling final weekend in Riga. Now Caruana and Firouzja are sharing the lead with David Howell, while no fewer than ten players are standing only a half point back — the fight for the two spots in the next edition of the Candidates has heated up considerably! Meanwhile, Lei all but secured tournament victory in the women’s section, as she incredibly collected a fourth win in a row by beating Alexandra Kosteniuk with the black pieces. | Photo: An...
Alireza Firouzja and Lei Tingjie have a full-point edge over their closest chasers in the open and women’s sections of the FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss taking place in Riga. Both sole leaders won in round 8, with Firouzja beating Krishnan Sasikiran and Lei scoring her third consecutive victory by defeating Alina Kashlinskaya. Rating favourite Fabiano Caruana joined a 10-player chasing pack in the open section, and will face Firouzja on the top board in Friday’s ninth round. | Photo: Anna Shtourman