The European Women's Blitz Championship 2024 unfolded in the glamorous setting of Monte Carlo, Monaco, on Friday. A total of 126 players from 28 European nations registered to compete. Among the participants were top seeds Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland), the defending champion, Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) and Ann Matnadze (Spain). The tournament followed a 13-round Swiss system with a 3+2 time control.
In a surprising turn of events, Polish IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya, seeded 12th, clinched the title. The 22-year-old displayed exceptional form, scoring 10½/13 points, capped by a crucial final-round victory over Bella Khotenashvili. Former women's world champions in classical chess Anna Ushenina and Alexandra Kosteniuk secured second and third places, respectively. Both players also ended the tournament with 10/13 points, winning their final games to solidify their podium finishes.
Going into the championship's final round, Maltsevskaya was tied for first place with Dutch prodigy Eline Roebers. The 18-year-old rising star, who made waves by winning the Dutch Women's Championship in 2023, fell short in her round 13 game with the black pieces against Kosteniuk. This result left Roebers in fourth place with 9½ points. She shared the same score as Greek IM Stavroula Tsolakidou, who finished fifth on tiebreaks after a commendable performance.
The action continues in Monte Carlo with the European Women's Rapid Championship scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. This two-day event will see 142 participants compete in an 11-round Swiss tournament with a 15+10 time control.
The Closing ceremony of the European Women’s Blitz Chess Championship 2024 took place yesterday evening and the event continues today with the Rapid event!
— European Chess Union (@ECUonline) January 11, 2025
Congratulations to the Blitz Medalists:
🏆IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya 🇵🇱, 10.5 points
🥈GM Anna Ushenina 🇺🇦, 10 points
🥉GM… pic.twitter.com/YkiSehs69u
In the key encounter between Kosteniuk (playing white) and Roebers, the Swiss representative quickly got an attacking position out of a Sicilian Defence. Roebers erred by attempting to defend her king's weakened position with 20...Rf7
Instead of placing the rook on f7, Black needed to play 20...Bd8, giving way for the queen to defend along the seventh rank. After the text, Kosteniuk broke through with 21.h6 and after 21...g5 (the best continuation) White did not shy away from allowing a queen exchange with 22.exf6
22...Qxg3 23.Rxg3 Bxf6 24.Bxg5
White is a pawn up, and has a winning position. Kosteniuk converted her clear advantage into a 29-move win.
| Rk. | Name | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IM | Maltsevskaya, Aleksandra | 2324 | 10,5 | 0 | |
| 2 | GM | Ushenina, Anna | 2329 | 10 | 0 | |
| 3 | GM | Kosteniuk, Alexandra | 2430 | 10 | 0 | |
| 4 | IM | Roebers, Eline | 2322 | 9,5 | 0 | |
| 5 | IM | Tsolakidou, Stavroula | 2274 | 9,5 | 0 | |
| 6 | WGM | Rudzinska, Michalina | 2117 | 9 | 0 | |
| 7 | IM | Arabidze, Meri | 2378 | 9 | 0 | |
| 8 | GM | Khotenashvili, Bella | 2347 | 9 | 0 | |
| 9 | GM | Batsiashvili, Nino | 2225 | 9 | 0 | |
| 10 | GM | Paehtz, Elisabeth | 2355 | 8,5 | 0 | |
| 11 | IM | Kulon, Klaudia | 2296 | 8,5 | 0 | |
| 12 | IM | Wagner, Dinara | 2368 | 8,5 | 0 | |
| 13 | IM | Atalik, Ekaterina | 2254 | 8,5 | 0 | |
| 14 | IM | Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat | 2356 | 8,5 | 0 | |
| 15 | GM | Stefanova, Antoaneta | 2392 | 8,5 | 0 | |
| 16 | WGM | Papp, Petra | 2307 | 8,5 | 0 | |
| 17 | WGM | Toncheva, Nadya | 2244 | 8,5 | 0 | |
| 18 | WFM | Shvedova, Alexandra | 2168 | 8,5 | 0 | |
| 19 | IM | Injac, Teodora | 2318 | 8,5 | 0 | |
| 20 | GM | Cramling, Pia | 2283 | 8,5 | 0 |
