Andorra wins "Small Nations Tournament"

by André Schulz
11/8/2023 – The European Team Championship for small nations is held every two years. This year it took place in Jersey. Ten teams from small European countries took part. This year's winners were Andorra, ahead of the Faroe Islands and Luxembourg. | Photos: ECU
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The European Small Nations Team Championship has been held every two years since 2009. The ten participating "small nations" are Luxembourg, the Faroe Islands, the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, the Principalities of Liechtenstein, Monaco and Andorra, the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Cyprus, and the Republic of San Marino. The tournament is supported by the European Chess Union.

This year's European Championship of Small Nations was held in Jersey from 28 October to 5 November at the Pomme d'Or Hotel (Liberation Square, St Helier). The local organiser was the Jersey Chess Club.

The idea for this competition goes back to a series of tournaments organised by patron Joop van Oosterom in Monte Carlo from 1993 to 1997. After a break, the tournament was revived on the initiative of the San Marino Chess Federation and has been played regularly ever since.

The ten teams play against each other on four boards. Since 2013, the classification is based on team points, whereas before it was based on board points. Although the European Championship of the Small Nation is more of an amateur tournament, some titleholders and even grandmasters take part.

This year, grandmasters Oscar de la Riva Aguado (Andorra) and Amir Bagheri (Monaco) went on the hunt for points for their teams, as did the women's grandmasters (WGM) Tatiana Dornbusch (Monaco) and Elvira Berend (Luxembourg).

The record winners of the previous editions are the Faroe Islands, who have won the tournament four times in eight editions, in the inaugural year in 2009, as well as in 2013, 2017 and most recently in 2021.

This year, the Andorra team proved to be the strongest representative of the small countries. They won eight of their nine matches, drawing only against the Faroe Islands. Andorra had their best player in CM Serni Ribera Veganzones. He scored 7.5 points from the nine rounds on board three.

The Faroe Islands were one of the favourites to win the title again this year, but they lost to Luxembourg right from the start and finished second with 15 points, thanks to a slightly better finals rating, ahead of Luxembourg, who had the same number of points.

Final standings

Rk. Team  TB1 
1 Andorra 17
2 Faroe Islands 15
3 Luxembourg 15
4 Malta 11
5 Cyprus 9
6 Monaco 8
7 Liechtenstein 7
8 Jersey 5
9 San Marino 2
10 Guernsey 1

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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
De La Riva Aguado,O2437Righi,E18461–02023C458th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Berardi,G1653Porras Mateo,F23500–12023A208th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Ribera Veganzones,S2167Vivoli,A15031–02023E158th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Leardini,M1587Ribera Veganzones,J21520–12023B318th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Hamperl,F1998Ferster,F2162½–½2023B218th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Krieger,M2147Strade,A19261–02023B908th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Nevska,G1765Iclicki,W19251–02023B128th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Frick,R1866Morgan,J17741–02023B388th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Michaelides,K2275Pace,C2155½–½2023E748th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Darmanin,J2091Isaakidis,A20991–02023D008th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Antoniou,R1949Novak,R2189½–½2023D458th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Zerafa,R2080Constantinou,S18200–12023B098th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Nielsen,H2386Wiedenkeller,M2442½–½2023C548th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Berend,E2280Poulsen,M2289½–½2023B018th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Rodgaard,J2285Berend,F2253½–½2023D418th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Gengler,P2130Apol,L21521–02023B068th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Carpenter,P1922Bagheri,A2388½–½2023A018th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Dornbusch,T2232Gurner,J18481–02023E628th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Hawes,J2095Ribbegren,K2122½–½2023A348th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Van Hoolandt,P2037Forbes,G18341–02023E908th European Small Nations Team Champion1
Volpinari,D1900Bagheri,A23880–12023B118th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Dornbusch,T2232Berardi,G16531–02023D468th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Vivoli,A1503Ribbegren,K2122½–½2023B088th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Van Hoolandt,P2037Leardini,M15871–02023D308th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Wiedenkeller,M2442Carpenter,P19221–02023B068th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Gurner,J1848Berend,E2280½–½2023B228th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Berend,F2253Hawes,J2095½–½2023B078th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Wojciechowski,P1904Bourg,N20530–12023C728th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Pace,C2155Nielsen,H23860–12023B068th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Poulsen,M2289Darmanin,J20910–12023A018th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Novak,R2189Rodgaard,J2285½–½2023D028th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Apol,L2152Cilia Vincenti,D19201–02023C818th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Ferster,F2162Michaelides,K22750–12023A218th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Isaakidis,A2099Iclicki,W19251–02023B128th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Frick,R1866Antoniou,R1949½–½2023B458th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Constantinou,S1820Heron,A1882½–½2023D858th European Small Nations Team Champion2
De La Riva Aguado,O2437Kirby,P19761–02023B428th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Hamperl,F1998Porras Mateo,F23500–12023C458th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Ribera Veganzones,S2167Nevska,G17651–02023C788th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Morgan,J1774Ribera Veganzones,J21520–12023B238th European Small Nations Team Champion2
Kirby,P1976Righi,E1846½–½2023E098th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Volpinari,D1900Hamperl,F19981–02023B308th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Strade,A1926Berardi,G1653½–½2023B748th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Vivoli,A1503Morgan,J1774½–½2023B778th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Michaelides,K2275De La Riva Aguado,O2437½–½2023E748th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Porras Mateo,F2350Isaakidis,A20991–02023E118th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Antoniou,R1949Ribera Veganzones,S2167½–½2023E128th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Ribera Veganzones,J2152Klerides,P2060½–½2023C418th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Nielsen,H2386Ferster,F2162½–½2023B208th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Krieger,M2147Rodgaard,J2285½–½2023C018th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Apol,L2152Frick,R18661–02023B378th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Heron,A1882Nielsen,J20920–12023C588th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Carpenter,P1922Pace,C2155½–½2023A018th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Darmanin,J2091Gurner,J18480–12023B138th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Hawes,J2095Zerafa,R20800–12023D368th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Cilia Vincenti,D1920Forbes,G18341–02023E628th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Bagheri,A2388Wiedenkeller,M2442½–½2023D028th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Berend,E2280Dornbusch,T2232½–½2023C908th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Ribbegren,K2122Berend,F22531–02023A018th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Gengler,P2130Van Hoolandt,P20371–02023A078th European Small Nations Team Champion3
Righi,E1846Berend,E22800–12023B268th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Berend,F2253Volpinari,D19001–02023B018th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Berardi,G1653Gengler,P21300–12023A218th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Bourg,N2053Leardini,M15871–02023B328th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Pace,C2155Bagheri,A2388½–½2023B158th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Dornbusch,T2232Novak,R2189½–½2023D278th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Zerafa,R2080Ribbegren,K21221–02023A438th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Van Hoolandt,P2037Cilia Vincenti,D19200–12023D378th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Ferster,F2162Carpenter,P19221–02023A108th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Gurner,J1848Krieger,M21470–12023C608th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Iclicki,W1925Hawes,J2095½–½2023A558th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Forbes,G1834Heron,A1882½–½2023A368th European Small Nations Team Champion4
De La Riva Aguado,O2437Nielsen,H2386½–½2023C458th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Poulsen,M2289Porras Mateo,F23500–12023C558th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Ribera Veganzones,S2167Rodgaard,J2285½–½2023C188th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Apol,L2152Ribera Veganzones,J21521–02023B518th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Kirby,P1976Michaelides,K22750–12023E328th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Antoniou,R1949Strade,A19261–02023A278th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Nevska,G1765Constantinou,S18200–12023A268th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Klerides,P2060Morgan,J17741–02023B768th European Small Nations Team Champion4
Michaelides,K2275Righi,E18461–02023E068th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Volpinari,D1900Isaakidis,A20990–12023B118th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Constantinou,S1820Vivoli,A15031–02023C028th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Leardini,M1587Klerides,P20601–02023B238th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Nielsen,H2386Kirby,P19761–02023B308th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Strade,A1926Poulsen,M22890–12023B018th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Apol,L2152Nevska,G17651–02023B008th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Morgan,J1774Nielsen,J20920–12023C548th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Carpenter,P1922De La Riva Aguado,O24370–12023A018th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Porras Mateo,F2350Gurner,J1848½–½2023B068th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Hawes,J2095Ribera Veganzones,S21670–12023A068th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Ribera Veganzones,J2152Wojciechowski,P19041–02023B388th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Bagheri,A2388Ferster,F2162½–½2023D008th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Krieger,M2147Dornbusch,T2232½–½2023B048th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Ribbegren,K2122Frick,R18661–02023D058th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Heron,A1882Van Hoolandt,P20371–02023C508th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Wiedenkeller,M2442Darmanin,J20911–02023A458th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Novak,R2189Berend,E2280½–½2023E628th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Berend,F2253Zerafa,R20801–02023D208th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Cilia Vincenti,D1920Bourg,N2053½–½2023A218th European Small Nations Team Champion5
Righi,E1846Pace,C2155½–½2023B228th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Darmanin,J2091Volpinari,D19001–02023B228th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Berardi,G1653Novak,R21890–12023D278th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Cilia Vincenti,D1920Leardini,M15871–02023A228th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Ferster,F2162Wiedenkeller,M2442½–½2023A208th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Berend,E2280Krieger,M2147½–½2023D738th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Iclicki,W1925Gengler,P21300–12023E948th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Bourg,N2053Heron,A1882½–½2023B538th European Small Nations Team Champion6
De La Riva Aguado,O2437Bagheri,A2388½–½2023B108th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Dornbusch,T2232Porras Mateo,F23500–12023D028th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Ribera Veganzones,S2167Ribbegren,K21221–02023B088th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Van Hoolandt,P2037Ribera Veganzones,J2152½–½2023B858th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Kirby,P1976Carpenter,P1922½–½2023A428th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Gurner,J1848Hamperl,F19981–02023C098th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Strade,A1926Hawes,J20951–02023B078th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Forbes,G1834Nevska,G1765½–½2023A268th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Michaelides,K2275Nielsen,H23860–12023B078th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Poulsen,M2289Isaakidis,A20991–02023B108th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Antoniou,R1949Rodgaard,J2285½–½2023A178th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Nielsen,J2092Constantinou,S18200–12023B528th European Small Nations Team Champion6
Nielsen,H2386Volpinari,D19001–02023B228th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Berardi,G1653Rodgaard,J22850–12023A178th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Apol,L2152Vivoli,A15031–02023C108th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Leardini,M1587Nielsen,J20920–12023C568th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Carpenter,P1922Michaelides,K22751–02023A018th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Isaakidis,A2099Gurner,J18480–12023E708th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Forbes,G1834Constantinou,S1820½–½2023A838th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Klerides,P2060Wojciechowski,P19041–02023B098th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Bagheri,A2388Kirby,P1976½–½2023A488th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Strade,A1926Dornbusch,T22320–12023B038th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Ribbegren,K2122Nevska,G17651–02023D028th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Morgan,J1774Van Hoolandt,P20370–12023C248th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Wiedenkeller,M2442De La Riva Aguado,O2437½–½2023D008th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Porras Mateo,F2350Berend,E2280½–½2023E628th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Berend,F2253Ribera Veganzones,S2167½–½2023E068th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Ribera Veganzones,J2152Gengler,P21301–02023B328th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Pace,C2155Ferster,F21621–02023B338th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Krieger,M2147Novak,R2189½–½2023C108th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Zerafa,R2080Iclicki,W1925½–½2023D118th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Frick,R1866Cilia Vincenti,D19200–12023C828th European Small Nations Team Champion7
Righi,E1846Krieger,M21470–12023C638th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Iclicki,W1925Volpinari,D1900½–½2023A128th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Vivoli,A1503Frick,R18660–12023B778th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Heron,A1882Leardini,M15871–02023B318th European Small Nations Team Champion8
De La Riva Aguado,O2437Pace,C21551–02023B228th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Darmanin,J2091Porras Mateo,F2350½–½2023C848th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Ribera Veganzones,S2167Novak,R2189½–½2023C108th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Zerafa,R2080Ribera Veganzones,J21520–12023E028th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Kirby,P1976Wiedenkeller,M24420–12023D278th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Berend,F2253Strade,A19261–02023B908th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Nevska,G1765Gengler,P21301–02023A218th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Bourg,N2053Morgan,J17741–02023B368th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Michaelides,K2275Bagheri,A23881–02023E058th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Dornbusch,T2232Isaakidis,A20990–12023A458th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Antoniou,R1949Ribbegren,K2122½–½2023B388th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Van Hoolandt,P2037Constantinou,S18200–12023D378th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Nielsen,H2386Carpenter,P19221–02023B068th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Gurner,J1848Poulsen,M22890–12023B018th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Apol,L2152Forbes,G18341–02023B068th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Wojciechowski,P1904Nielsen,J20920–12023C848th European Small Nations Team Champion8
Carpenter,P1922Righi,E1846½–½2023A018th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Volpinari,D1900Gurner,J18480–12023B528th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Forbes,G1834Berardi,G16531–02023D028th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Leardini,M1587Wojciechowski,P19040–12023B238th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Bagheri,A2388Nielsen,H2386½–½2023B078th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Ribbegren,K2122Rodgaard,J2285½–½2023D058th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Apol,L2152Van Hoolandt,P2037½–½2023C788th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Wiedenkeller,M2442Michaelides,K22751–02023D008th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Isaakidis,A2099Berend,E2280½–½2023E708th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Berend,F2253Antoniou,R19491–02023B408th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Constantinou,S1820Bourg,N20530–12023C458th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Pace,C2155Kirby,P19761–02023B578th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Strade,A1926Darmanin,J20911–02023C848th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Novak,R2189Nevska,G17651–02023D028th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Morgan,J1774Cilia Vincenti,D19200–12023C558th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Ferster,F2162De La Riva Aguado,O2437½–½2023E638th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Porras Mateo,F2350Krieger,M21471–02023C548th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Frick,R1866Ribera Veganzones,S21670–12023B128th European Small Nations Team Champion9
Ribera Veganzones,J2152Heron,A1882½–½2023B908th European Small Nations Team Champion9

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André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.
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