1/12/2026 – The European Women's Rapid Championship, held over the weekend in Monte-Carlo, brought together 143 players from 30 countries for an 11-round Swiss at a 15+10 time control. After leading for much of the tournament, Alexandra Kosteniuk was overtaken in the final round by Nino Batsiashvili, who secured the title on tiebreaks. The event also featured an undefeated run by ten-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan and a closely contested fight for the remaining podium places. | Pictured: Kosteniuk, Batsiashvili and third-placed Sofio Gvetadze. | Photo: European Chess Union

1/10/2026 – The 2025 European Women's Blitz Championship, held on Friday in Monte-Carlo, brought together 127 players for a 13-round Swiss played at a 3+2 time control. The title was decided in dramatic fashion in the final round, where top seed Eline Roebers defeated long-time leader Bella Khotenashvili to secure tournament victory. | Pictured: The start of the crucial Roebers v. Khotenashvili encounter. | Photo: European Chess Union