The prestigious European Women’s Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships reached a thrilling conclusion in the Principality over the weekend, with Europe’s top female players claiming well-deserved titles and cash prizes totalling over €46,000.
Between 9th and 13th January, the Novotel Monte Carlo played host to the European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships for women. The event brought together nearly 150 of the continent’s finest chess players, representing 28 federations in a fierce battle of strategy and skill.
The Blitz Championship was ultimately won by Polish powerhouse Aleksandra Maltsevskaya, who delivered a stellar performance to clinch the gold medal with an impressive 10.5 points.
Her razor-sharp play left her just half a point ahead of Anna Ushenina of Ukraine and Swiss contender Alexandra Kosteniuk, who both finished with 10 points. A tiebreak analysis awarded the silver medal to Ushenina, while Kosteniuk secured bronze.
The Blitz event was played over 13 rounds under the Swiss system, with a time control of three minutes plus a two-second increment, and featured a prize fund of €15,200.
Two medals for Ukraine’s Anna Ushenina
The excitement continued with the Rapid Chess Championship, held over two days from 11th to 12th January. In an extraordinary display of talent, four players—Ukrainian Anna Ushenina, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh from Spain, Ukraine’s Yuliia Osmak, and Eline Roebers from the Netherlands—finished the tournament tied for the top spot with 8.5 points each.
Once again, tiebreak criteria proved decisive. Ushenina rose to the occasion, claiming her second medal of the event and solidifying her status as a true chess champion.
Khademalsharieh earned the silver medal with a brilliant showing, while Osmak’s consistency secured her the bronze. Eline Roebers, despite narrowly missing the podium, earned widespread admiration for her performance.
The Rapid event took place over 11 rounds using the Swiss system, with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment. The cash prize for the Rapid Championship was €31,300.
The closing ceremony was a fitting finale to the week’s high-stakes competition. Among the dignitaries in attendance were European Chess Union (ECU) President Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Tournament Director and ECU Vice President Jean-Michel Rapaire, ECU Board members, and Chief Arbiter Stéphane Escafre. Their presence highlighted the growing significance of the event, which not only showcased elite chess but also celebrated the vibrant diversity of European talent.
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Left to right: Yuliia Osmak, Anna Ushenina and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh
Photo credit: Patricia Claros Aguilar