Press release of the Austrian Chess Federation
Text: Walter Kastner
The French grandmaster Deimante Daulyte-Cornette won in the final round of the "Graz Chess Ladies" against Jasmin-Denise Schloffer and with this victory she won the tournament in honour of Eva Moser, the best Austrian women player of all time, with 7.5/9. But Schloffer also had reason to celebrate: Sche scored 4.5/9 and made her second WIM norm. Which means that the Styrian local heroine can still be become a WIM in 2024. Tournament winner Daulyte-Cornette praised the perfect organisation and recalled that she had already played a tournament in Graz 14 years ago. One of her opponents in this tournament was Eva Moser, who died five years ago.
Austria's Nikola Mayrhuber missed out on a potential sensational victory against reigning World Rapid Champion Anastasia Bondaruk from St Petersburg, Russia, who plays under the FIDE banner. Bodnaruk had to win to have any chance of winning the tournament and started a wild attack. Mayrhuber defended well and got the better position, but the game slipped away from her just before the time control. Bodnaruk won and finished second with 7.0/9, half a point ahead of former European champion Ekaterina Atalik of Turkey, who had 6.5/9.
At the award ceremony Michael Stöttinger, President of the Austrian Chess Federation and organiser of the tournament, recalled the great international chess events that have taken place in Graz over the past decades. The Chess Ladies Graz 2024 tournament continues this tradition. "The fighting spirit of the players was extraordinary, in some rounds all games were decided, so the tournament was also a pleasure for the spectators! The Austrian national players proved their potential in the battle with the international top class, which also confirms the course to further support women in the Austrian Chess Federation!" (wk)
