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The Estonian Chess Federation was host of the European Rapid- and Blitz Championships which were played from 15th to 17th December in Tallinn. The event celebrated the 100th birthday of Paul Keres, Estonia's greatest chessplayer, who was born on January 7th 1916 in Narva and died on June 5, in Helsinki.
Celebrating the 100th birthday of Paul Keres
Chess - a sport for the masses
The rapid tournament was played over two days as an 11 round Swiss Open with 541 participants. Alexei Shirov had the best start - he simply won his first seven games and led with 7.0/7. But then he lost steam and in round 8 he had to concede a draw to Rauf Mamedov.
Alexei Shirov (right, with Black) had the best start
In round 9 Shirov lost against Vladimir Onischuk and this allowed Mamedov - who had won against Wojtaszek - to pass Shirov and to take the sole lead. But in the last round Mamedov lost against Riazantsev while Matlakov won against Shirov. Riazantsev and Matlakov both finished with 9.5/11 but Riazantsev had the better tie-break and became European Rapid Champion 2016.
The three winners with their trophies (from left to right): Maxim Matlakov, Alexander Riazantsev, Rauf Mamedov
| Rg. | Name | Elo | Pts. | TB1 | |
| 1 | GM | Riazantsev Alexander | 2671 | 9,5 | 0,0 |
| 2 | GM | Matlakov Maxim | 2662 | 9,5 | 0,0 |
| 3 | GM | Mamedov Rauf | 2670 | 9,0 | 2,0 |
| 4 | GM | Onischuk Vladimir | 2720 | 9,0 | 0,0 |
| 5 | GM | Wojtaszek Radoslaw | 2721 | 9,0 | 0,0 |
| 6 | GM | Anton Guijarro David | 2605 | 8,5 | 0,0 |
| 7 | GM | Shirov Alexei | 2662 | 8,5 | 0,0 |
| 8 | GM | Ponomariov Ruslan | 2702 | 8,5 | 0,0 |
| 9 | GM | Leko Peter | 2692 | 8,5 | 0,0 |
| 10 | GM | Zhigalko Sergei | 2728 | 8,5 | 0,0 |
... 541 players
Complete standings at chess-results...
Officials (from left to right): Gennadi Nesis (European Chess Union), Kirsan Ilyumzhinov,
Ken Koort (Estonian CF), Aris Ozolins (FIDE Baltic zone), Juri Tamm, Stephane Escafre
After rapid followed blitz. 570 players started in the European Blitz Championship which was a 13 round open Swiss tournament with two games against the same opponent per round - one with White, the other with Black.
Dmitry Andreikin dominated from beginning to end. He started with 9.0/9, did not lose a single game in the whole tournament and finished with 22.0/26 to become European Blitz Champion 2016. Rauf Mamedov won silver, Sergei Zhigalko bronze.
The top tables: Vallejo, Mamedov, Andreikin, Zhigalko, Matlakov, Navara
Zhigalko-Andreikin
| Rk. | Name | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | |
| 1 | GM | Andreikin Dmitry | 2719 | 22,0 | 0,0 |
| 2 | GM | Mamedov Rauf | 2770 | 20,5 | 0,0 |
| 3 | GM | Zhigalko Sergei | 2699 | 19,5 | 0,0 |
| 4 | GM | Matlakov Maxim | 2668 | 19,5 | 0,0 |
| 5 | GM | Leko Peter | 2697 | 19,0 | 0,0 |
| 6 | GM | Andriasian Zaven | 2720 | 19,0 | 0,0 |
| 7 | GM | Bortnyk Olexandr | 2741 | 19,0 | 0,0 |
| 8 | GM | Bologan Victor | 2584 | 19,0 | 0,0 |
| 9 | GM | Navara David | 2754 | 19,0 | 0,0 |
| 10 | GM | Anton Guijarro David | 2600 | 19,0 | 0,0 |
| 11 | GM | Vitiugov Nikita | 2682 | 18,5 | 0,0 |
| 12 | GM | Jovanovic Zoran | 2585 | 18,5 | 0,0 |
| 13 | GM | Wojtaszek Radoslaw | 2666 | 18,5 | 0,0 |
| 14 | GM | Vallejo Pons Francisco | 2648 | 18,0 | 0,0 |
| 15 | GM | Kovalenko Igor | 2667 | 18,0 | 0,0 |
| 16 | GM | Ponkratov Pavel | 2657 | 18,0 | 0,0 |
| 17 | GM | Grandelius Nils | 2602 | 18,0 | 0,0 |
| 18 | GM | Onischuk Vladimir | 2740 | 18,0 | 0,0 |
| 19 | GM | Jankovic Alojzije | 2606 | 18,0 | 0,0 |
| 20 | GM | Huzman Alexander | 2563 | 18,0 | 0,0 |
... 570 players
Complete list at chess-results...
The winners (from left to right): Mamedov, Andreikin, Zhigalko
Photos: Tournament page (Oleg Hartsenko)
